Has it really been nine months since I updated this thing? Oh, well I've been busy and it's not like people were anxiously awaiting a new post. Anyway, I recently watched an import from the ever popular country of Japan. 2002's Suicide Club has got to win the award for most all over the place film. David Lynch would probably get confused while viewing this.
Basic background on the story is that all over Japan people are committing suicide for no apparent reason. The disturbing part is that it seems to mainly be people of high school age and in groups. The beginning scene is a bunch of happy school girls making their way to the subway platform. They are all smiling and chatting until they hear the train approach. They all take a step towards the edge of the platform and hold hands. 1...2...3... they all jump onto the tracks and blood is splattered everywhere. The best part is that the image is coupled with generic elevator music. Their is no heightened feeling of doom felt, just the shock of seeing random commuters being sprayed with blood. I have to admit that choice was a great one. Too often films go for the easy "surprise" by the usual scary music with a character walking around alone. With that you kind of expect something to happen. In Suicide Club, not so much. In fact there are similar scenes through out that are just as puzzling. Of course the big question is Why? So the police are brought in to find out.
Now. On to the mind fuck part of this movie. At each public spectacle a bag is left. What is in the bag? Something pretty rancid, because even seasoned homicide detectives can't hold their stomachs. The audience eventually get to see what contents is and all I'm going to tell you is that you should not eat anything during viewing. Now the most "what the fuck" moment comes during the point where we think we have it all figured out. Basically some guy claims he's responsible for the fad of suicide, but he's dressed like Marc Bolan. To top it all off he bursts out into song. In an abandoned bowling alley. You have to see for yourself. I think it was a poor choice on the part of the film makers, because it throws everything off and I ended up harping on it through out the end.
All in all, Suicide Club was okay. It was worth the 99cent rental fee, but I have no desire to see it again and wouldn't really recommend it for something other than laughs. It did have its moments, but it was mostly just a showcase of Japan being odd.
