Blu-ray Review: VILLAGE OF DOOM (1983)

 

VILLAGE OF DOOM

Directed by:   Noboru Tanaka

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD Entertainment

 Unearthed Films is one of my favorite movie companies out there.  Not only do they release and distribute films that normally wouldn't get a release due to their extreme nature, they also produce their own extreme gore films!   Recently, Unearthed Films created a new line of films called Unearthed Classics.  These are older films that they are releasing that have either been long out of print, or maybe even the first time being released in the U.S.!    Today's review is from the Unearthed Classics line, and it is called VILLAGE OF DOOM.    The film is from 1983, and is one I had never heard of before arriving to me for review!  

 Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Unearthed Films website:

A classic Japanese true crime story, Village of Doom is a chilling reenactment of the infamous Tsuyama Massacre, a revenge killing spree that occurred on the night of 21 May 1938 in the rural village of Kamo near Tsuyama in Okayama Prefecture. Mutsuo Toi, an emotionally distraught 21-year-old man who had been ostracized by his fellow villagers, went on a violent killing spree that took the lives of 30 people, including his own grandmother. Before finally killing himself, Toi visited his revenge upon the village using a shotgun, Japanese sword and axe. It remains the deadliest mass murder spree in Japanese history.

 The film is based on the true story of the Tsuyama Massacre, something I was not familiar with before this film.   Here is a brief description of the massacre from Wikipedia:

The Tsuyama massacre was a revenge spree killing that occurred on the night of 21 May 1938 in the rural village of Kamo close to Tsuyama in Okayama, Empire of Japan. Mutsuo Toi (都井 睦雄, Toi Mutsuo), a 21-year-old man, killed 30 people, including his grandmother, with a Browning shotgun, katana, and axe, and seriously injured three others before killing himself with the shotgun. It is the deadliest shooting by a lone gunman in Japanese history.

 I always find it so hard to believe that I have gone my whole life never even hearing about some films, especially when they are as good as this one.   I am in tons of horror movie groups on Facebook, and follow lots of horror movie fan accounts on Insta and X, yet somehow this is one that had just slipped by me.   I am not sure how this is not talked about more, because it is definitely worthy of discussion. 

 The film follows a 30ish year old man who lives with his grandmother.  He is a quiet, shy man who is very smart and dreams of being in the military to serve his country.   He is liked by all in his village, but is sometimes taken advantage of by his so called "friends".   This very normal, calm man is instantly changed when he goes to enlist in the military, but is refused due to an illness.   He has been diagnosed with the highly contagious Tuberculosis.   Word spreads quickly around his small town, and he is instantly discriminated against by all the people of his village.  He is also chastised for not serving his country in the military, through no fault of his own.    

 As time passes, this once quiet man get fed up with the way he is treated.   What starts as a minor annoyance grows into pure hatred as the build up of the way he is being treated boils up inside him.   He makes a plan to extract revenge upon his village.   He makes a map and plots out house to house the direction he will go.   He does this in the dead of night, to catch people off guard and while everyone is inside so the streets will be empty for him to navigate without being seen.    This creates some very cool visuals as he straps two flashlights to his head and around his chest, almost giving him the look of some homemade super hero, or I guess in this case, super villian, costume.   Prowling the night in his homemade get up looks very creepy.    He carries out his killing streak using a multitude of weapons including guns, swords, knives, and even an axe. 

 This was an excellent film, and quite topical with todays climate.  Seeing this nice, quiet, young man go from completely normal to a vicious killer was very disturbing.  The movie shows this in such a way that is so realistic, showing the very slow transition, making it so much more realistic and disturbing.   You can see how his transition was created, and you could see the exact exchanges that led to it.  It really makes you think that if we pay more attention to people and how they are treated, maybe we could tell when people are starting to transition to this way of thinking and could stop a something like this from happening in present day.  

I can't recommend VILLAGE OF DOOM enough.   It is a great film that is a must see for all extreme horror fans.   While there is a bit of gore, there is nothing overwhelming, but just the subject matter by itself and the violence our lead takes on innocent people is extreme enough. 

 VILLAGE OF DOOM is available now from Unearthed Films and includes the following Special Features:

• *  Audio commentary by Asian film experts Arne Venema and Mike Leeder
• *  Dark Asia with Megan: Case #57 Japan's Darkest Night, Tsuyama Massacre
• *  Promotional Gallery
• *  Theatrical Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the BLU-RAY

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4K ULTRA HD Review: THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND (2020)

THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND
Written & Directed by:  Kevin McManus & Matthew McManus

Distributed by:  Synapse Films / MVD Entertainment

 I am always surprised when I get a screener in the mail to review, and I have never heard of the film.  Especially with newer films.   Such was the case when THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND showed up in my mailbox.   This film is one I had somehow missed.   I have never even heard a mention of it!   I was surprised to see that Synapse Films is who put this one out, as I associate them re-issues of older titles.  

 Before I get into the review, here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Synapse Films website:

  Something terrifying is happening off the coast of Block Island. A strange force is thriving, influencing residents and wildlife alike. Birds are dropping out of the sky and fish are mysteriously washing up on shore. As some residents are suffering from inexplicable emotional collapse, Harry Lynch (Chris Sheffield, The Stanford Prison Experiment) watches with dread as his father grows increasingly forgetful, confused and angry. Very, very angry! His sister Audry (Michaela McManus, Into the Grizzly Maze, TV’s The Orville), whose work in marine biology will soon prove invaluable, returns to town with her daughter and leads them all towards chilling revelations that will affect her family in unimaginable ways.

 Let me start off by saying this film will not be for everyone.   It is a bit of a slow burn, but it definitely kept me entertained the entire running time.  This was mainly because I could not figure out what was going on and wanted to find out!    I actually would not classify this as a horror film.  It's more of a dark mystery, suspense sort of film with a bit of a Sci-Fi element to it. 

 The film is about Harry, who is trying to figure out exactly what happened to his father, Tom.  A mysterious sound is causing some very strange things around the island, including mass fish kills and missing people.   Harry keeps seeing his deceased Dad throughout the film, and he seems to be trying to hint to Harry what is going on.   These scenes are very creepy, and it's hard to tell what is real and  what in in Harry's mind.  As the film goes on, we see Harry spiral down a road of madness, causing some major issues with his siblings who have all gathered to find out what happened to their Dad. 

 I'm still not sure I 100% understand this film, and I feel like what is happening and the sound the islanders are hearing is never fully explained.   That was my main issue with this film, as I wanted more of an explanation.  I understand though, that sometimes it's the fact that there is no explanation that makes it more terrifying.   

 The film only has a few scenes involving special effects, but they are very well done.  There is even a special feature on the disc that discusses making the effects on the small budget this film had. 

 The acting in this film is excellent and the cinematography is outstanding.  I love seeing the views of the open water, especially in this 4K Ultra HD edition.  The picture is crystal clear and looks amazing.  

  THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND is available now on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, and contains the following Special Features:

• *  The 4K UHD release features a special limited edition slipcover featuring new art from Joel Robinson, while supplies last
• *  Original Trailer
• *  A Practical Apocalypse
• *  Finding the Cast
• *  Filming on the Water
• *  Special Effects on a Shoestring
• *  Los Angeles Behind-the-Scenes (Super 8mm)
• *  McManus Family Home Movies

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray