Noboru Iguchi's THE MACHINE GIRL

Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

Japanese school girl goes on rampage to wreak revenge on the murderers of her little brother, gets fitted with prosthetic arm/machine gun, ensuing action consumes more artificial blood and gore than any film in recent memory.

Still, THE MACHINE GIRL does have its moments of charm despite the overall goofiness. The photography and production values are quite unique when viewed from the perspective of more traditional Japanese films, that’s for sure. The suburban and country scenery are photographed in a spare, pallid fashion that isolates the characters and action as far removed from the hustle and bustle of so many crowded Japanese urban settings.

I was reminded of the rural village setting of Higuchinsky’s UZUMAKI and its weird portrayal of almost-normalcy. But THE MACHINE GIRL takes the cake for over the top histrionics, splatter, and tongue-in-cheek humor. Be warned, though, this film, while entertaining, is not for the faint of heart.

Review copyright (c) 2009 by Dennis D. McDonald