Remember
how exciting (not to mention revolutionary) George Romero/Dario Argento's
DAWN
OF THE DEAD was in 1978? Now, after 30+ years of insipid films
and anemic [American] TV series, the tired zombie apocalypse concept
gets a refreshing shot in the arm from director Shinsuke Sato. Based
on a manga series by Kengo Hanazawa (see book cover, right),
this is the huge Japanese hit that has rejuvenated the zombie genre.
The
story - thankfully - is not convoluted with 'love interests' and 'human
strife,' but rather, it's a streamlined actioner that is surprising
smart and gory-as-hell. Quite simply, struggling manga artist Hideo
Suzuki finds himself fighting for survival during a zombie outbreak.
He and an infected high school girl attempt to reach safety on the suburban
side of Mt Fuji (the virus doesn't spread as fast in the cold) and but
are forced to take refuge with a band of rebels in an outdoors shopping
mall.
Director
Sato has been involved in movies, TV programs and video games for the
past two decades. Internationally, he is best known for the female swordswoman
film PRINCESS
BLADE. The incredible success of I AM A HERO
has spawned a Japanese television series (2017+) with the same team
of actors. Lead actress Masami Nagasawa has appeared in 75+ projects
since 2000 including numerous TV projects and the reoccuring Twin
Fairy
character in various Godilla films, but - prior to I
AM A HERO - she is probably best known for Japanese movie starring
Gene Simmons [from Kiss] called DETROIT
METAL CITY.
A Japanese
film, with English subtitles; widescreen format, fully uncut (126 minutes),
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT; extras include original
theatrical trailers.
Graphic
Violence/Gore
Recommended for Adult Audiences
Remember
how exciting (not to mention revolutionary) George Romero/Dario Argento's
