Review of Tokyo Gore Police (2008) by Rowena B — 18 Jul 2008

I was waiting to see this film for awhile now, so once I saw that it was part of the Fantasia 2008 line-up, I jumped at the chance to see it.

And was it ever worth it! TGP is a relentlessly bloody, over-the-top, and generally really freakin' odd story of revenge, set in a futuristic Japan, where the police (who are now privatized) hunt down mutants (known as Engineers), that grow weird appendages when they are wounded.

TGP takes gore to a whole new level, I haven't seen this much blood in any one film in a very long time. It makes Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive" seem tame by comparision.

And just as any other film of this calibur, it doesn't take itself seriously at all, it's simply a wild and violent romp in which you're either with the ride it takes you on, or you're not.

Some kinda disturbing images here and there (I can see any mainstream moviegoer being disturbed the second the film opens), but highly imaginative at the same time. The appendages, and general mutations reminded me of a Cronenberg film, while some of the exceutions of gore are just beyond Troma film quality.

What also adds the the film, is the "Starship Troopers" like TV commercials that are basically selling suicide. A fun addition to the overall tone of the film.

Although not a film for everyone, this is just insane fun, and one of my favorite picks at the Fantasia fest so far. As a matter of fact, this film, from A to Z, represents fully what the Fantasia fest is all about.

If buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets of gore are your thing, and you like your films on the over-the-top insane side, then I recommend TGP, just don't forget to bring a towel.