Battle Royale

Aroview: This hyper-kinetic, violent satire from Japan courted controversy (and a fair swag of hype) for its ‘irresponsible’ premise and searing imagery of gun-toting school kids in blood-splattered uniforms, though its more sensational than shocking, more blackly comic than threatening.

Set in the near future where schools have turned into war zones, the government solution is the “Battle Royale” program, which seeks resolution by isolating 42 students on an island, arming them to the teeth, and letting them fight to the death until one ‘survivor’ remains. Perhaps missing a reality-check that might have given it more satirical clout, this instead enjoys the punkish, B-movie horror tradition through a string of imaginative slayings.

Incredible Film Fest 2003

more matches…