The Toronto After Dark Film Festival (TADFF) is over and I must say, it was an interesting experience. I didn’t see all the films I wanted to but I did take in some interesting screenings. In my previous postings, I discussed the opening night film Let the Right One In and MirageMan; as well as, the ever entertaining Toronto Zombie Walk. In the following few days at TADFF, I got to see some funny, cheesy and outrageously bloody films.
On Tuesday night, some friends and I went to see Netherbeast Inc. Directed by Dean Ronalds; it stars Dave Foley, Darrell Hammond, Steve Burns and Robert Wagner, among others. I was forewarned that I may find this movie silly, stupid, ‘not worth the time.’ However, having read the synopsis beforehand, I went without any expectations except maybe hoping for a few laughs. And I laugh I did. It brings us to a telephone company’s office that’s staffed by flesh-eating, blood-drinking vampires or NetherFolk as they liked to be called. It has quirky, funny dialogue along with an interesting soundtrack. A fun 90-minute film. I read somewhere online that the DVD will be out early December. So you may be able to see this film after all… along the lines of Shawn of the Dead.
On Wednesday night, I returned to the Bloor for Mutant Chronicles. A film directed by Simon Hunter; starring Ron Perlman, Thomas Jane and John Malkovich… The film has some decent special effects at some points. Its script, however, full of cliché lines and scenes. We laughed many times not because it was funny but we couldn’t believe the extent to which the plot and script were stretched. It’s hard to believe this film played at Cannes earlier this year. I’m not even going to tell you much else because frankly, I don’t think it’s deserving of much more time and space. I did not find many good comments about the film online, so that should give you an idea… Not a great rendition to the game it is based on.
I ended my TADFF experience with Tokyo Gore Police. What a roller coaster ride! For once, a film that left me without words at the end. Directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura; this film delivers in terms of the gore you get to see on-screen. Typing this, I’m still not sure where to begin… Blood, more blood, flying body parts, messed up fetishes, S&M clubs along with a privatized police force led by a corrupt and morally deprived man, well, it’s only but a tiny glimpe of where this film will take you. We then come to know Ruka (Eihi Shiina), a female police officer, a “cutter,” whose sole job is to destroy all homicidal humans turned mutants (known as “engineers”). Ruka is ruthless in her killing style, yet possesses a certain elegance.
One of my favourite scenes in this film comes in the very first half. Ruka is on a subway train and a man gropes her. He proceeds to follow her outside where she is set to teach him a lesson. She tells him that groping is a crime and cuts off his arms… The rain of blood is exquisitely depicted as Ruka uses a little umbrella to cover herself as she walks off… a really beautifully shot scene. From there on, however, the killings get more violent and the mutants or “engineers” more bizarre. We see a machine-gun penis, acid spraying breasts and lots, lots more.
What’s evident in Nishimura’s film, though, is the social commentary. Evident from the privatized police force and ads clearly targeting self-harmers or “cutters” as a cool thing to do; the audience gets to experience the other scriptwriters’ (Nishimura, Kengo Kaji and Sayako Nakoshi) version of a deranged Japan. As uncomfortable as some scenes can make one feel, I think those of you who are fans of Japanese gore will seriously enjoy this film… as “fun” as such gore can be, I suppose. I left the film with little to say and simply told a friend “I think I need a shower.” I’d say that’s a pretty good way to end Toronto After Dark.
