Since SIN CITY came out a couple years ago a lot of films have jumped on the action-noir bandwagon. This one distinguishes itself with about twice as much violence as CITY while on a practically non-existent budget.
Earnest (if uneven) performances and rapid-fire editing try their damnedest but can't overcome a thoroughly uncompelling story focusing on another 1-dimensional antihero. While the backstory is potentially intriguing (the government unleashes undead demons to aid in law enforcement), it all boils down to an cliché-ridden overall narrative (rogue investigator versus Yakuza henchmen while out to find the MacGuffin VHS tape).
That said, the action scenes are very well-done and actually improve substantially as the film goes along. Just when you're about to doze off during the sluggish mid-section, a neat footchase erupts traversing rooftops, public store frontage, parking garages, hedgerows, etc. The film also pulls a few surprises later on - killing off a lot of characters when you don't expect it at all. Even one undeserving character dies particularly brutally via plastic bag suffocation... with a pt. blank shot in the face to add insult to injury.
Highlights include a Yakuza mass-murder scene rivaling the 1989 PUNISHER movie, the aforementioned footchase, a hilarious dream sequence, and some sporadically good gore.
Impressive for the budget, but the film would have benefited immeasurably from some tightening up, some set design, and some more dynamic lighting.
