Toyoda Toshiaki: "I'm Flash!" See this film at the Calgary International Film Festival...

Here's what I wrote for the 2012 Calgary International Film Festival: I’m Flash! – Toyoda Toshiaki Toyoda Toshiaki’s early films, Blue Spring and 9 Souls, rocked the world with his visual perspective and unflinching eye on Japanese society. Toyoda’s newest film, I’m Flash!, is the story of a charismatic cult leader paired up with three mismatched yakuza bodyguards. Having caused a tragic car accident that puts a young woman in a coma, the guru starts out on a path to salvation that begins with his intentions to leave his cult. His signature cinematography with spiraling images and emphasis on colors is perfectly evident here. In I’m Flash! Toyoda paints with indelible ink. Of particular importance here are the whites and the blues. There are several glowing blue visual images shot from beneath the sea as the cult leader is diving up to the shimmering surface and the white light of the sun. Where do we go when we die? The big questions of life are all answered in I’m Flash! Life is brief and life is beautiful. - Mike Skurko

2012 San Francisco Independent Film Festival: Toyoda Toshiaki's new film 'Monsters Club'.

Here's what I wrote for SF Indie Fest 2012. I had a chance to see this film in November at FilmEx in Tokyo. Great film. Catch this one at Indie Fest in SF in February...

10th Anniversary of Toyoda Toshiaki films at the 2012 San Francisco Independent Film Festival.

Monsters Club

2/19 9:30pm
2/22 9:30pm

Dir. Toyoda Toshiaki.

Abandoning civilization to live in a small cabin deep in the woods, Ryoichi sends bombs to corporate CEOs as a stark warning to a gluttonous society addicted to consumerism. The monster within comes to visit as an apparition and challenges his views of the existing paradigm and asks if these violent actions can actually effect change. Can he make a difference with his extreme approach? Flashbacks of Ryoichi with his family show a cracked mirror reflecting fragments of the modern society he’s trying change. Surreal snow filled beauty and haunting musical score illuminate this timely dilemma.
In 2002, at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco I watched ‘Blue Spring’ and was exposed to a perspective of a Japan that was not at all Hello Kitty. Woven deep into the fabric of an orderly, neat and polite Japan there is something unsettling that Toyoda unearths on the screen. This raw perspective and perfect eye for both cinematic beauty and haunting soundtracks have been Toyoda’s hallmarks on all his movies. The next Toyoda film at our festival was ‘9 Souls,’ followed by ‘Hanging Garden’ and most recently ‘The Blood of Rebirth’. Each film is an opportunity to see beyond the veneer, beyond an entrenched culture of consumerism and the aspects of society that are clearly broken. Since screening ‘Blue Spring,’ SF Indie Fest has taken every opportunity to ensure that Toyoda’s San Francisco fan base is able to view his films. We’ve hosted him here twice and he’s returned the favor with dinners in Tokyo and memorable hangovers from the smoke filled back alleys of Shinjuku.
If you have yet to see a Toyoda film you will find that ‘Monsters Club’ stands on it’s own as a beautiful, unsettling and surreal work. If you are a Toyoda fan you’ll find this film has everything you’d expect, starting with the musical score, all the way to the raw power of nature and the magical snow filled countryside of Niigata, Japan. The fissures in the family portrayed in this film are, once again, perfect metaphors for what is tragically flawed in current society.
The San Francisco Independent Film Festival is delighted to present Toyoda-san’s ‘Monsters Club’ on our ten-year anniversary of screening his films. Join us as we continue to celebrate the film career of Toyoda Toshiaki!
- Mike Skurko




http://sfindie.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/monstersclub_toyodatoshiaki_sfindie2012

Red Ice - 2011 Hole Head Film Festival S.F.

Here's What I wrote for this year's festival guide:

Red Ice
Dir: Ralph Hyver
Evan, a software engineer is a drug addicted work-aholic who’s business partner Bob cuts some critical corners on a software project for a new military flight control system causing catastrophic results. Tough spot for Evan, who’s just left the bedside of his dying estranged mother where he plays classical flute. Evan was raised in foster care and ultimately became addicted to methamphetamine. Beelzebub sends his bizarre and demented foot soldier, Mr. Wu to do his bidding and kill his powerful rival the Succubus. Wu takes advantage of certain weaknesses and lures Evan into the fold with the devil’s own ruby colored meth. High and directed by the minions of the devil himself Evan is now doing battle with the temptress warrior Succubus. Bob? What happened to Bob? Blew his brains out, but lured back to the human plane of existence to help the devil. Does is get any better? Special effects and a plot line that borrows from Dantes Inferno. Red Ice? Spectacular!
- Mike Skurko

And? Here is what else I thought about it: They spent some real money on the effects in this film. This one is amazing.

Looks like there is one more chance to see this at the festival. Don't miss it! Saturday, June 11th:

http://anotherholeinthehead.slated.com/2011/films/redice_ralphhyver_anotherholeinthehead2011

Yakuza Weapon - 2011 Another Hole in the Head Film Festival, S.F.

Here's another one you won't want to miss. Did you like Tokyo Gore Police? I certainly did! Check www.sfindie.com for show times and prepare to be blown out of the water.

Yakuza Weapon
Dir: Tak Sakaguchi & Yudai Yamaguchi
Special Effects by Yoshihiro Nishimura (Hell Driver, Tokyo Gore Police)
Mind bending special effects and a plot line that borrows from ultra violent Japanese ‘manga.’ A yakuza story of revenge with a twist creates the multi billion yen man, an unstoppable Yakuza Weapon. The ongoing and ever escalating portrayal of Shozo as a man who happily steps on land mines, and thinks nothing of blowing up a sky scraper while standing next to a mountain of dynamite. Yakuza Weapon is out of control.
- Mike Skurko

Bleeding House

So, the following is what I wrote for the program guide of the 2011 Another Hole in The Head Film Festival in S.F. What I didn't mention was that I absolutely loved this one! It is so totally disturbing that it brings back memories of watching 'Katie Bird' for the first time. Wince factor very high. Check www.sfindie.com for showing times and go and see it!

The Bleeding House
Dir: Stephen Gelatt
The Bleeding House begins with a family of four in a secluded country home. This family has a very dark past. One day an unusual stranger with bizarre intentions comes by and asks to spend the night because of “car trouble.” The family offers the stranger lodging for the night and what begins to unfold is terrible and violent. We quickly find that the deep dark secret this particular family holds is even more wicked and frightening. There is no guessing this painful and unique plot. You will be shocked and truly mortified at the tale of The Bleeding House.
- Mike Skurko

Hole Head 2011, San Freancisco - See Hell Driver!!

Here's what I wrote for the program guide:

Hell Driver
Dir: Yoshihiro Nishimura
(Tokyo Gore Police, Suicide Club, Machine Girl)
Hell Driver is a blood bath in the depraved realm of extreme cinema. Mutant zombies with horns coming out of their brains, these ‘Zombie antlers’ can be ground and snorted like explosive biker crank. This crazed gore festival of bloody mayhem is punctuated by a raw blasting soundtrack and jaw dropping imagery. Visually explosive and as painful as getting your brain dropped into battery acid. Hell Driver will make you howl!
- Mike Skurko

Hell Driver kicks ass. Yeah, sure it reminded me a bit of Tokyo Gore Police, but beyond that? Way beyond that? I kept thinking when I saw Gore Police... "Now, what? You can only raise the bar so far..." Until they start punching a hole in your chest with an asteroid. Now that you really do need to see, and you will in the totally crazed film Hell Driver! ;-)

Hell Driver will rip your spine right out of your skull!

Another Hole in The Head 2011, Digging into the Madness!

I now have a tidy stack of DVDs for the 2011 Another Hole in The Head Film Festival. Horror, Slasher, Torture Porn (not “porn,” but rather a deviant approach to the bizarre sub genre of torture centric horror films), Sci-Fi and much, much more. This is the film festival that seems to have been hand made for the youth of today. Mosh pits and bloody noses not living up to the promise of total intensity? I bet. Really looking for some crazed mayhem and madness? Try this film festival.
www.sfindie.com
I know, I know. I promise to tell you what I really like.
As usual I am always pumped to see what is coming out of Japan. Sure. If you’ve followed this blog at all you know that Japanese film and some of the extremes that have been conjured up by Toyoda, Kumakiri and others are always on my mind. There’s a couple of excellent new films from Japan that will be in this years festival. Beyond that? Do you want some insider film industry scoop? Sure you do. Toyoda Toshiaki has a new film. No, it’s not in this festival. Yes, after ‘The Blood of Rebirth’ there is something new. Something so new I haven’t seen it and you undoubtedly haven’t even heard of it. I will say no more until I get my hands of a screener and sit down to watch. If you still haven’t delved into the Toyoda films then you need to get started. Extreme? Trust me, you haven’t seen anything like his film ‘Blue Spring.’ Full frontal impact about an explosively violent Japanese high school and the power struggle of the gangs… Like all of his films this one speaks volumes to the cracks and fragments of Japanese society. I’ve said it before, but Toyoda-san kicks Hello Kitty to the curb and shows you a Japan that the Western world has seldom seen. From the ashes of the recent disasters in Japan there will be beautiful and amazing films to come… Stay tuned and in the mean time get out there and watch every film from Toyoda Toshiaki. Start with ‘Blue Spring,’ and then? ‘9 Souls.’ Keep watching. You will see a perspective of Japan that is seldom seen by outsiders.
So, coming up in the 2011 Another Hole in The Head Film Festival? ‘The Craving 95%.’ A local S.F. film. At a glance? A rising San Francisco culinary star. Rumors of Cannibalistic murders in the city. Need you ask? Really? What is on the menu at this hot new restaurant? Is this fun? Without a doubt.
“A Cadaver Christmas.” Did I say fun? Yep.
A pile of DVDs. There is something for everyone at this festival and if you stay tuned I’ll keep you posted on the process…
“Yakuza Weapon?” You have no idea.

SF Indie Fest - Another Hole In The Head Horror/Extreme Film Festival 2011!!

Coming up in June. June 2 - 16, 2011 - San Francisco

http://www.sfindie.com/

I'll be writing the program guide again this year and am looking forward to some extreme total immersion as piles and piles of DVDs begin to arrive in the post. Planning to put some writing up here for any who follow this blog and will also be steering you to some of my personal favorites. Should be another great year for the summer festival of horror, slasher, sci-fi and all the wacky and insane films that defy category! Keep checking the sfindie web site for details and if you are in the SF area plan on stopping by to check out the festival.