GOZU

2003
Color
Unrated
129 minutes

Director: Takashi Miike

Cast:
Sho Aikawa
Kimika Yoshino
Hideki Sone
Shohei Hino

SPECIAL FEATURES:
16x9 anamorphic video
letterboxed
Commentary with film critics
Interview with Miike
Still Gallery
Biographies
More

Genre:Cult/Horror (Yakuza Horror)
US Unrated Version Reviewed
Pathfinder Pictures
Order Availability: Amazon

Yakuza Horror Theater at its weirdest..

Review: Allen F.

Sho Aikawa as the demented Ozaki

Here we go, Gozu ia a very hard to classify Takashi Miike film under the moniker "Gozu: Yakuza Horror Theater". The film is a successful mix of the Yakuza (Dead or Alive Type films) and wacky Japanese Horror. This film has something for everyone (even freaks). The most bizarre well done mish mash of genres. In Gozu you will meet some of the weirdest people on celluloid. This is Miike at work hard to make you laugh out loud, be shocked and perhaps scratch your head a few times wondering just what the hells going on.

Ozaki fears the dreaded Yakuza "Attack Dog"(?)

I loved this weird ass film alot. Gozu may just be one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen and I have seen alot of flicks in my life. This one just about takes the cake (or shall I say custard yuck). After our main character attacks a little dog claiming its a Yakuza attack dog (see still) we follow the story of the deranged Yakuza Ozaki (Sho Aikawa) being transported by an underling thug to a strange town for his unknowing disposal (aka getting whacked) you could say. Throw in the strangest people you have ever dreamed of and a dash of male attraction perhaps (egah) as well as some strangely almost supernatural and defiantly unbelievable happenings and you get Gozu. Filled to the brim with Miike's fantastic imagery and oddities of your worst nightmare. The film touches on topics like reincarnation (wow a must see to believe scene), full grown adult birth (ouch), weird channelers, missing persons, murdering garbage men, odd people farting in closets(?), people that are completely insane diners at a restaurant, ungodly visions (or are they real?) horny old ladies, and japanese demons (Thus the title GOZO). It would take forever to list the oddities in this film. I recommended it to you. It may offend but most readers of Kyonsi know what they're in for with a Miike flick of this nature. Alot of things in the film may not make sense but it sure is a wicked ride to Yakuza hell. When I thought that Miike's "Dead or Alive: Final" was extreme I had yet too see GOZU. The nastiest funniest Yakuza Horror film ever made.

5 Skull Flick - NOT for the squeamish