"Suicide Club" review

Suicide Club (2002)
AKA Jisatsu saakuru

Directed by Sion Sono
Writing credits Sion Sono

Ryo Ishibashi.... Detective Kuroda
Akaji Maro.... Detective Murata
Masatoshi Nagase.... Detective Shibusawa
Saya Hagiwara.... Mitsuko
Hideo Sako.... Detective Hagitani

Something got very lost in translation. "Suicide Club" feels like it was made exclusively for its home audience. Speaking as an American, I am not really sure what in the heck is going on in this movie. Maybe it's better that way. The only thing that has stuck with me is that hypnotic song by the Junior Japanese Spice Girls. "Mail me! Of all my friends, hello from you is the best...Mail me!" Now I understand why the teens killed themselves. This song will drive you mad.

So people start killing themselves. Why they do this is unknown. Some cops get put on the case but it's all to no avail. No one could understand this jumbled movie if they tried. There is a teen pop band that may be causing havoc. Or maybe it's the bleached blonde rock star sending his followers secret messages to end it all. Or possibly it has something to do with a white suitcase full of skin rolls. All of these are possibilities. What the true reason is for the mass suicides will forever be a mystery in the minds of the filmmakers.

Maybe there is more than a cultural gap at work here. Perhaps the Japanese are experiencing a generation gap of massive proportions. The adults in "Suicide Club" are mystified by the teenagers. They don't understand their music, their websites or their dang Suicide Clubs. I'm with them. I don't get it either.

One last thought, one of the main reasons I rented "Suicide Club" was to see the opening scene where 54 schoolgirls jump in front of a moving train. This scene held promise. It could have set a new standard in gore. Alas, it was not to be. A few blood sprays here and there but nothing to get too shocked over. I was disappointed. *Sigh* Oh well. At least I've got that great song bouncing through my brain..."Mail me! If I don't hear from you soon, I'll die!" AAAAAAHHHH!

SCORE: 2 out of 4 schoolgirl splatter