September 28, 2007
Exte (Hair Extensions)
Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair . . .
Starring: Chiaki Kuriyama, Ren Osugi
Rating: 9/10
Directed By: Sion Siono
Runtime: 108 minutes
Starring: Chiaki Kuriyama, Ren Osugi
Rating: 9/10
Directed By: Sion Siono
Runtime: 108 minutes
"Here baby, there mama, everywhere daddy daddy . . . HAIR!!!"
This might very well have been my favorite film of Fantastic Fest this year. When I first saw the poster, I was excited about it, but the film far exceeded my expectations. Sion Siono, previously noted for his films Suicide Circle and Strange Circus, brings us a welcome respite from the glut of J-Horror we've seen over the past few years, a genre that was initially really cool but has become stale and predictable. Exte (known in Japan as Ekusute, is totally freaky, but also has a riveting sub-plot about the relationship between the heroine, her sister, and her young niece. You might recognize the star Chiaki Kuriyama from a few other Japanese flicks, or more likely for some of you from her break out role in Kill Bill has the killer teenage girl Gogo Yubari.
The film is welcomely short on gore but packed chock full of creepy, with amazing shots of hair growing, flowing, and showing. And if that's not enough, you get an amazing performance from Ren Osugi, including one of the funniest musical numbers you're likely to see this year. It's pure fuckin cybermonkey!