Gozu

Avantgarde Japanese cinema at it's finest. A bizzare odyssey filled with all kinds of psycho sexual imagery. If you liked Ichi the Killer you'll dig this. Gozu means 'bull head' in Japanese. I like what one reviewer called it Yakuza horror. Note: there are scenes that may not be appropriate for some viewers. That said, this film is a must see. A mob underling is tasked with getting rid of his crazy boss. Then on the way to the 'dump' where the mob gets rid of its own. A bizzare twist of events unfolds when the crazy boss dies by accident and then his body vanishes! So begins one of the most strangest of tales ever told. Highly recommend.

The movie begins with Ozaki saying, "Everything I'm about to tell you is a joke. Don't take it seriously." He then proceeds to murder a cute little chihuahua. Enter Minami, the "otouto" who has been dispatched to deliver Ozaki to "the dump" in Nagoya cuz he's crazy and needs to be disposed of. Every second of this bizarre tale is like a waking nightmare, where things make little sense, and are just surreal enough to be frightening. It's very much in the same vein as a David Lynch movie with weird dream like sequences, a cow headed demon, and a woman who claims to be "Ozaki." Wonderfully bizarre and grotesque. Highly recommended.

Gozu by Takashi Miike is a film that you will constantly think about while simultaneously, with what is left of your sanity, try to forget lest you be thrown in an insane asylum. The same feeling stirred in me the first time I watched David Lynch's Eraserhead. Gozu, like Eraserhead, is a sort of nightmare. Lynch, when he's not forecasting L.A. weather, (does he still do that?) describes his films as "an idea," and I believe that is what Miike is going for in his film. Upon my viewing, the themes are not made obvious. I was too enraptured by the sheer craziness and confusion. Although, during the end credits song, you can hear "no sex" being chanted (at least, I think that is what is being said) so, maybe, the idea of abstaining from sex, or, specifically, taboo sex might be the overall theme.Gozu evokes a range of emotions, some that may trigger laughter, horror or even frustration. With that said, it is worth persevering through, not to say that it is a chore to watch since the performances by the actors are great and the range of seriousness and offbeat comedic timing at which they perform results in a film where anything can happen, and does. Considering the film runs over 2 hours, Gozu does reward you with an ending that is quite the payoff. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. I will not spoil it no matter how late you or I are to the party (Gozu was released in 2003. I watched it for the first time in 2016).It would be difficult for me to recommend this movie. I doubt that I would even strike up a conversation with someone about it, even if I overheard them discussing it with some bewildered individual trying to make sense of it all. My two cents would not go pass, “Yeah, Gozu. Crazy, right? What the hell was that about?” Anyway, there is enough going on in the film, for anyone who likes their movies a bit strange, to enjoy.

Okay, I have no idea how to even begin to rate this movie. The description on the Amazon Prime begins: "In this wildly bizarre..." I'm here to tell you that "wildly bizarre' doesn't even begin to describe how immensely strange this movie is.I've seen some pretty bizarre celluloid in my day and when this movie ended I actually said out oud "Wow, I think that was the trangest movie I've ever seen in my life. I'm not kidding.I suggest it.

As strange and twisted as this movie is, it manages to be completely surreal, and at times subtle. it was a crazy experience to say the least.The second full-length Takashi Miike movie ive seen, "Ichi The Killer" being the only other. i was surprised with the overall package here. theres only one scene you could really constitute as violence, and even that is pretty hilarious in its own way. this one is out there, even for Miike. i dont want to list too much of the oddities, as thats already been done very heavily (reading them took some of the fun out of this movie for me) ill just say ive seen ichi 3 times and imprint twice, and his movie had me scratching my head in awe and confusion many times.things start off looking like a yakuza film, but the tide turns fast as the main character is charged with killing his superior.. and best friend. early into the movie his friend disappears out of nowhere, and thus begins the search.. and an excellent journey into what may be another realm (nothing is really explained, which may put off some viewers, but i think it all just added to the intrique)good camera work(some scenes are excellently atmospheric) lots of good laughs, although you may wander why your laughing, and a story that'll keep you guessing long after the credits(i still am)you'll have the best experience with this movie if you just go ahead and watch it. dont read the spoilers in many reviews on here, i cant imagine how great this would've been if i hadnt known what was going to happen.any fan of Takashi or generally strange cinema - buy this now!

If you're a fan of David Lynch movies or if you enjoy surrealist horror films -- then you really have to see this. The characters are strange and illogical, and intentionally so. The landscape, music, and atmosphere are all fascinating and chilling at the same time. I really really wish there were more movies like this! I haven't seen many other Miike films, so if you're coming over from Ichi the Killer or Audition I can say it's disturbing but not always in a gorey way. Maybe you COULD say the whole film has a somewhat similar vibe to the scenes in Audition when that lady is in her apartment (maybe not as chilling).

Absolutely nuts but definitely worth the watch if you like Asian cinema.

Keeps you glued to the screen not only for the action but also the great soundtrack - all so weird but well worth the watch.

What an odd film. What a very, very odd film. It's not often I'm lost for words, but this time...well... it... I...Gozu is possibly - no sorry - definitely one of the most bizarre films I've ever seen. I'm still not sure what happened. I feel like I've taken a blow to the head. I feel like someone spiked my drink with Rohypnol and I'm just coming round. Things are still a bit foggy; hazy; and I'm struggling to make sense of it all.If women giving birth to full-grown men, human bodies with cows heads, women bottling their breast milk for their hotel guests, gangsters, and men who get off on shoving ladles up their behinds is your thing, then go for it - because let's face it, I don't think you're going to find another film anywhere that caters to your tastes. Gozu is it for you buddy.On the whole I found the film a bit too surreal for me. Surreal I can deal with. But I still like a story I can follow and make sense of. For film fanatics and hardcore Mike Takashi fans only.On the plus side - I did love the title sound track.If you found this review helpful please give it the thumbs up.

Similar to an acid trip I hypothetically took once this movie challenges your senses. If your the type of person who if offended easily, If Cultural taboo bothers you, If your averse to stylistic things you won't understand the first time around... You really won't like this film. I've seen a few Miike movies, Ichi the Killer which is a standard of his, Audition, and visitor Q... So I'm not very versed with his work. I'm slowly working on that but I have at least seen enough that I at least knew coming in that this movie would not work within the confines of normal. It didn't disappoint, This movie was a descent into a realm of a twisted reality, which could have been a dream. You kind of feel like your watching an R rated version of Alice in Wonderland.. Where or where has this Yakuza ended up? The uncomfortable atmosphere which Miilke is a genius with instilling is present throughout most of the movie. Things may seem normal... but you know that things are anything but. It's a great film, a great Miike film. But it definitely is not for everyone.

Den Film Gozu kannte bereits vorher und ich habe ihn gekauft, weil ich gut finde. Für den Film also 5 Sterne.Was mich allerdings bei der Veröffentlichung ovn I-ON New Media stört, ist die schlechte Bildqualität bei Bewegungen. Was kann da passiert sein? Immerhin steht auf der Rückseite Anamorphic 16:9. So ein Fremdwort soll wohl Qualität suggerieren. Aha, der Film ist immer noch interlaced! Das steht allerings nirgendwo auf dem Cover. Hat als Masterband ein Fernseh-Tape gedient? Auf jeden Fall werden bei mir wieder Erinnerungen an das gute alte PAL-Fernsehen wach ....