A living hell (aka Iki-jigoku)

Shugo Fujii (2000, Jap)

Cast: Hirohito Honda, Yoshiko Shiraishi, Rumi, Kazuo Yashiro, Naoko Mori, Shugo Fujii, Hitoshi Suwabe

Plot:
Horribly mutilated remains are found, amongst them those of a poor mother who’s eyes have been grossly obliterated by an insect. Chiyo, a spooky stoned grandmother, and her no less stoned (autistic?) and spooky daughter are the only survivors of the drama. They are both placed under the good care of their cousins, the Motokawas. They would all live happily, wasn’t it for the grandmother who loves to torture Yasuto, a handicapped helpless and hopeless kid from that family. Unfortunately for him, he’s the only one staying with the two weirdos during day when the others are at work. So day after day is a nightmare for him.. and then some disturbing family secrets are revealed.. seems that all the family has gone wacko after all. Poor little fella will suffer..

Appreciation: 7/10
Hard to talk about this one.. I loved most of it, but found the ending inappropriate (or useless shall i say). The first hour or so works really well, very atmospheric, and it’s a real thrill to see this sick grandmother and her daughter torture the poor helpless kid. Very creepy but yet very funny. I just wish they would have continued in that more "conventional" path, but instead it just becomes a big delirious circus towards the end and the movie just loses its creepy atmosphere. Shows that there is such a thing as too many plot twists (watch "Wild things" and see what i mean). The crazy family reminded me alot of the one in Texas chainsaw massacre.
Oh, and the doctors discussion at the very end is just useless.
The gore effects are very clever though and i must give a big round of applause for the grandmother and her daughter, they make the movie worth watching all by themselves.

Other suggestions: Texas Chainsaw massacre, Visitor Q