J-Film Blog

Death this, death that, no its not intentionally becoming a theme around here, lol.  Just seems that the export market from Japan seems to be centered around horror movies or manga/anime adaptations.  Sigh.

Anyway.  Death Trance is, to put it bluntly, just awesome.  Part swordplay/kungfu action flick, part Road Warrior, part fantasy-medieval quest, with that usual dash of Japanese quirkiness, but all awesome.

Set in an almost medieval Japan full of machine guns and motorcycles, the action follows “the coffin” which has been stolen from an impenetrable temple.  Inside the coffin is rumored to be the means to grant wishes, although temple apprentice Ryuen (Takamasa Suga) knows what really lies inside.  His quest leads him and a mysterious sword which can only be unsheathed by a “chosen one” to return the coffin to the temple.

He crosses paths with another seeker of the coffin, “Sid” (Kentaro Seagal, yes of that Seagal family) and together (sort of) they finally intersect with their target…

The legend-in-his-own-time “Coffin Man” Grave (Tak Sakaguchi) and his (adorably cute) young companion (Honoko Asada) are the one’s who’ve taken it.  As they successfully (and spectacularly) defend it from any and all takers, it becomes clear that Grave is destined for something greater.  Continually reappearing is one of the cast-down “angels” who seems to be involved in setting up Grave for his destined final battle, and “awakening” him for it.

The ending?  Well, I don’t want to spoil it, but lets just say that in an awesome display of other-worldly pyrotechnics, just as all is thought lost… It’s not, and then the picture ends!! No!  The ending just screams sequel, but there doesn’t seem to be one as of yet.  Too bad, because I for one would love to see what happens next.

The other aspect which makes this film so enjoyable is the humor.  It never really takes itself seriously, at any point.  Even the battle-royale fights are laced with a certain sly knowing wink that, “yeah, this is pretty outlandish, isn’t it….”  Just enough so you aren’t put off by it.

There are some parts of the film that just don’t seem to make much sense.  Such as the presence of the cute little girl with the insatiable appetite and a penchant for causing fights.  Is she human with other-worldly powers?  Another godly-presence?  What’s the connection?  I don’t know.  Maybe she’s just there as part of the comic relief, or a plot device for the initial thievery (you’ll see)… who knows.   Then there’s Grave’s “dream” with the freakishly cute “dolls”….  A little help here?

No matter.  The final package is just a whole lot of fun to watch, and quite disappointing that it ends so abruptly.  Watch it, you’ll see what I mean.

And no, I don’t know what the title is supposed to represent.  Maybe it just sounds cool, I dunno….

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443737/
Amazon: Ultimate Death Trance (Deluxe Edition)