Swan's Japanese Horror Reviews 12: Strange Circus

Review of Sion Sono's 2005 japanese horror film Strange Circus (奇妙なサーカス). This is a very erotic and grotesque piece of work that is unlike other modern j-horror,and the content is sure to divide viewers. This movie comes to us from the director of Suicide Club, and I think it's a better constucted film then Suicide Club (which was still a good movie, see review 8 for that one). Both Strange Circus and Suicide Club were released in the USA by TLA Releasing: www.tlareleasing.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• strange
• circus
• sion
• sono
• japanese
• horror
• j-horror
• tokyo
• erotic
• adult
• review
• 奇妙なサーカス

[martyrofevil]

I watched this film directly after viewing this review. I was not disappointed. I was surprised how tame this film was after Swan stated how disturbing it was, I was expecting Visitor Q type messed up. During the film, I thought it was an O.K film but, I assumed it would have a stupid ending. WRONG! I can't believe this films ending worked and it revealed itself right as I figured it out (unintentionally)and it's one of the best endings I've seen and other than Audition its my fav. Asian film

[rodgerswan]

hey cool, glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, I loved the ending as well.

[Knnedy]

I HAVE to see this..

Extremely graphic AND thought provoking?!

Suicide Club was awesome but this is probably better. =o

*hails Sion Sono*

[iMapleSyrupi]

I just finished watching it. While disturbing to say the last, I enjoyed it very much. Very much.

It had a very deep, psychological theme.

[BriCareful]

thats how I felt watching dumplings sooooo gross

[blondexnaruto]

Just got finished watching it. And wow was that a crazy film. Very well put together. Masumi Miyazaki was fantastic. Thanks for the review Swan. RIP

[yzarci]

Hey I have a question for the commentators,

Is the one available on Amazon actually cut by 24 minutes? I watched it online and I want a copy of it, but I don't want a cut copy.

[Vendelaaaa]

@Vendelaaaa and that's masterpiece!

Great spelling i know

[Vendelaaaa]

@Vendelaaaa and that's recommending!

[Vendelaaaa]

Thank you for recomanding it, it's a masterpice C:

[SanDhampir]

why do people hate this movie? this was actually a very beautiful (in a erotic way) movie. it had all what i wanted in a horror film: good acting, gore, a bit of sex, imaginative, magical, and the circus :D

[kataang4eva95]

I loved this movie but it disturbed me to no end... I didn't understand the ending very much sadly, but I understood the point of the movie and must say that Sion Sono is an amazing filmmaker.

[KeithTheKing]

Hiroshi Oguchi, the actor who played the dad in "Strange Circus" died in January 2009. He played drums with popular bands The Tempters, Pyg and Vodka Collins, was an actor and a respected painter.

[CynderXOX]

That is definitely one of my favorite movies. I love Sion Sono's work. It's both grotesque and beautiful.