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A pretty simple film. You either like the madness, or you hate it. There's very little middle ground as everything in the film is made to be as intense, loud, and explosive as possible
It's one of the few films that manages to have a physical effect on its audiences, something I can truly appreciate. To endure is to overcome, and once the film is finished you do feel somehow reborn.
Japanese cyberpunk is pretty much dead as a genre, this Shozin Fukui film is probably one of the last of its kind. It's a brave attempt, sporting some pretty cool ideas, but it's clear that the budget simply wasn't there to do justice to the concept. So all we get is this mad little short film. The gritty black and white cinematography is cool, the industrial soundtrack is pretty out there too. The two never quite come together though, as the whole short feels a bit rushed, even a little unfinished. But the raw quality is there and if you love yourself some hardcore cyberpunk cinema, S-94 won't disappoint.Read all
Expectations were low going in, but since this was helmed by Shozin Fukui it's a film I just had to see. It's not the most animated documentary, but therein lies its power. The premise is 90% of what this film has to offer, the remaining 10% is a little addendum where we learn a bit more about Koe. You get a quintet of manga artists using Koe as their canvas. Despite the "hentai" promise, the film is subdued and tranquil. It never feels exploitative, because Koe is visibly comfortable and the artists are professional. This turned out to be a pretty pleasant watch, just don't expect any deep insights or revelations.Read all
As much as I love Fukui, I struggle to see how he could produce a film like this. His cyberpunk work is mad and energetic, and a testament to his skill to deliver on a shoestring budget. Onne has an interesting enough premise, but the presentation is lacking and the film looks cheap from start to finish. Which is a shame, because the setup is pretty tense and I would've loved to have seen Fukui's signature treatment on a film like this. It's still worth a watch, especially if you like a left-field horror film without too much explicit gore or explicit scares. Just don't go in expecting a new Rubber's Lover of 964 Pinocchio.Read all
