2 1/2 stars out of 5

I watched Otto; or, Up With Dead People online via Netflix Watch Instantly in August 2009 and it’s been waiting in my review notebook ever since. Okay, okay: I watched one particular scene more than once; but, in my defense, I had to show it to a few other people. C’mon, it’s just too funny and shocking not to share.

In all fairness, there are clues for the unsuspecting movie geek who stumbles onto this film by accident. The cover of the DVD on Netflix, while focused on Otto, shows another young man in a provocative pose. Yeah, I missed that clue. The next clue comes from the Netflix synopsis:

Controversial filmmaker Bruce La Bruce‘s irreverent take on zombie movies centers on a cheerless, undead teenager named Otto, whose quest for love and acceptance outstrips his hunger for flesh. Feeding on roadkill, Otto wanders the streets contemplating his existence and looking for a job in this unapologetically campy German import. Jey Crisfar, Katharina Klewinghaus, Susanne Sachsse and Marcel Schlutt star.

“Yay, a coming of age zombie tale” is all I thought. Maybe I should’ve asked why Bruce LaBruce is considered a controversial filmmaker. I missed that clue, too. Had I bothered to ask then answer that question prior to watching Otto, I definitely would’ve known what kind of writer / director I was dealing with. But, you could also say, by not knowing what I was going into, the shock level was ratcheted up about 100%, and I love to be shocked, even to the point of hysterical laughter mixed with retching.

I double-checked the genre on a few different movie sites, and sure enough, it’s labeled “zombie horror,” but as I find so often in life, what something is labeled and what it actually is can be two totally different things. I found Otto to be more character-driven than plot-driven, which is what I would expect from a “campy…contemplating his existence” type of film. Therefore, I don’t think a plot synopsis from my perspective will help you in the decision to watch or skip this movie.

Maybe you would rather know about the full frontal male nudity. Or the intercourse with open wounds. Or the unsimulated orgy sprinkled with bloody body parts. All of which, when taken out of context, sounds really scandalous, right?

Personally, if I hadn’t expected something completely different, I probably wouldn’t have been so shocked. There’s plenty of real porn available with way more offensive behavior. Grannies…seriously? But I felt compelled to share the sort of images you will see if you decide to take a risk on Otto.

While I applaud the slap in the face to mainstream audiences, who have no issue with the amount of straight sex that’s everywhere, Otto is not a perfect film by any means. At worst, it’s a not-so-good gay zombie film with splashes of hardcore porn. At best, it’s an attempt at allegory and/or heavy social commentary…with splashes of hardcore porn. However, I did not enjoy the amount of time we’re forced to watch Otto walk–he walks along the highway, through the forest, through the city, and possibly other places. I zoned out during the neverending walks.

Those scenes almost made me stop the movie, but I didn’t. Why? Mainly because I liked Otto–even after he ate the hell outta that bunny. I connected with how Otto felt about himself, other people, and the world. And Jey Crisfar was key to Otto’s emotional appeal. The narration was excessive in parts and, along with the neverending walks, caused the pace of the movie to drag. In my opinion, the pace was what ruined the film. Had it been just a skoach faster, I probably would’ve rated Otto 3 1/2 stars.

In closing, I find it rather amusing to find so many reviews that read something like this, “I’m not homophobic but this movie is just gay porn and it sucked.” Hmm, usually when someone makes a point to say they are not something, they usually are: e.g. “I’m not a racist but…” or “I’m not judging but…” and on and on. For the record, I’m a straight chick.

And it never ceases to amaze me how many people leave a review in which they list no reason why they thought the movie “sucked.” I don’t know about you, but I take those kinds of reviews with a grain of salt because those individuals obviously can’t articulate any evidence to back up their opinion. Those individuals posted a reaction, not a review.

Does Otto sound like a movie you can’t wait to see?

Or a movie you can’t wait to forget ever hearing about?

WEB RESOURCES

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, click here for Otto‘s page.

Or, you can purchase the DVD on Amazon. Please note: I do not advise buying this DVD before you’ve watched it unless you are familiar with LaBruce’s work, enjoy “gay zombie porn,” or consider yourself extremely open-minded.

Otto official web site.

Otto on IMDb.

Bruce LaBruce’s web site. Consider yourself warned: LaBruce’s site contains sexually explicit images.

3 1/2 stars out of 5

The film contains three segments, each with its own director, and each with very different stories. There isn’t a lot of gore, as compared to what I’ve come to expect from extreme Asian horror, but there’s an abundance of bizarre imagery and creepy feelings. And for all us English-only folks, subtitles are provided.

The segments were presented in the following order:

Dumplings – directed by Fruit Chan (China), written by Lilian Lee

How far would you go – who would you sacrifice – to stay young and beautiful?

I enjoy finding scenes in new films to replace old ones stuck in my head. For example, the scene from It (1990), when the friends come together for dinner, never fails to flash in front of my eyes as the fortune cookies are placed on the table at my favorite Chinese restaurant.

Now when I attempt to eat won ton soup, Mrs. Li slurping down those dumplings comes to mind …and that’s not necessarily a good thing since I don’t long to test my gag reflex. Although, neither the scene from It nor the scene from Dumplings can beat the executive’s lunch in Audition (Odishon, 1999).

Dumplings is my favorite of the three segments for two reasons: First, the film addresses a topic all of us – okay, mostly women – wrestle with as the years start to pile up and the wrinkles grow more visible. Second, the sound effects are top-notch and used to 100% effectiveness.

On top of those two reasons, the actresses are excellent and the subplot carries a message almost as powerful as the main one. The last scene is a prime example of all these elements coming together. I moved away from the screen just a skoach during the last shot, which presents a character’s selfish acceptance reminiscent of the last scene in Teeth (2007), when Dawn is obviously at peace with who she is and what she has to do to survive.

A word of caution: If you cannot stomach child violence, even when it’s only implied, then you might want to skip this segment. I have a hard time watching babies and/or children abused or tortured or killed, but I made it through this film with only a mild case of nausea, which could be attributed to the excellent storytelling and direction.

Click to visit the filmmaker’s page on IMDb.

Cut - directed by Park Chan-Wook (Korea), written by Park Chan-Wook

How can you say you’re ‘good’ when you haven’t done anything ‘bad’…really, really bad?

Okay, I admit this is my least favorite of the three segments. The male protagonist is just a little too cold and the antagonist acts more silly than psychotic, which I suppose could be the actors’ interpretations of the characters. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t connect with the characters or the story. After watching twice, I’m not 100% sure whether this story takes place in reality or if it’s a dream. Or if it’s a movie within a movie.

In Cut, a film director, portrayed as being a good person, is kidnapped, along with his wife, by a former extra, who has some major mental issues. Scene-by-scene we see more of the director’s flaws as the psycho killer forces him into a decision any “good” person would be horrified to make.

The story flows at a smooth pace with adequate backstory, foreshadowing and flashbacks, so I feel I get all the necessary information. However, the end is where most viewers may scratch their head and question their decision to stick with this segment. The thematic elements of jealousy and revenge are pretty easy to spot and my gut tells me to take the entire film at face value: A good man stretched to his limit can snap and do bad things.

Click to visit the filmmaker’s web site.

Box – directed by Takashi Miike (Japan), written by Haruko Fukushima, based on the story by Bun Saikou

Can you live your life to the fullest if you’re tied to the mistakes in your past?

This segment scared me. It also made me think…a lot. I’m still not really sure if my idea of the movie is anywhere near what the filmmaker and writer intended; nonetheless, I’ve had fun trying to figure out the whole thing. And like I already mentioned, this segment is super creepy. The imagery and the atmosphere play off each other to create an undeniable feeling of discomfort and dread.

Box starts off in the midst of a female novelist’s recurring dream. The dream is about twin sisters, who perform in a circus sideshow, the finale of which features their male guardian – their father? – locking them each in a box then making them disappear. There’s some jealousy between the sisters; a hint of incest, if that is their father; and an innocent ploy for attention with horrible consequences.

That’s about all I know for sure.

The rest is pure imagination on my part, but I don’t want to ruin your chance to spend hours rehashing the story so I’ll stop there. I found Miike’s imagery breathtaking; full of emotion and believable even in the weirdest moments; but this is definitely the least gruesome Miike film I’ve seen to date.

Click to visit the filmmaker’s page on IMDb.

WEB RESOURCES

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you can watch Three…Extremes here.

Or, you can purchase the DVD on Amazon.