Crossfire

Let me start out by saying I like all kinds of genres, but I don't really like drama films.

This film was supposed to be a horror film.

Well, I read a lot of reviews prior to watching this movies, even some from horror movie review sites/blogs, and now, having seen this movie, I'm thinking: "What??" First of all, this film is NOT a horror film, AT ALL. This is a sci-fi drama film. There is not an ounce of horror in here. If you were looking for that, then move along. Nothing to see here people.

I started up this movie, expecting to see a horror film. I slowly realised that this is a drama film!

Not what I expected, but it was a nice watch anyways, nothing I would re-watch later though. I recognized the guy from Burisuta here, so that was pretty nice, seeing a familiar face. 6*

The movie has a familiar ring to it: It bears a strong parallel in its primary idea to Drew Barrymore's power to ignite objects (including human victims) with spontaneous combustion in Firestarter. I didn't expect much from this movie, but its originality set it apart from that other movie, and it surprised me.

Akiko Yada, as Junko, the character endowed with the gift/curse of the pyro-kinetic power, leads a spirited Japanese cast. A couple of actors over-do their parts, but everyone is convincing. Naturally, as more and more people learn the truth about Junko's power, several different individuals pursue her, each for opposing reasons. Junko herself is a pursuer, seeking vengeance against a killer. Many back stories, and the competing characters make for an involving story that moves quickly (and often violently). Those who would exploit her power are in abundance.

Many innocents are close to the action, too, making for a good, suspenseful plot. It has a strange ending, which provides for a good discussion of what it meant with someone you viewed the movie with. This movie blends elements of suspense, science fiction, romance, and action very well.

"Firestarter" we all know that one even if you haven't seen it. A girl who can control fire is used and persecuted because of her special powers. "ESPY"? That's an obscure one. It's a 1970's Japanese film about an elite team of telekinetics who fight an evil cult of telekinetics who are trying to enslave mankind. Shusuke Kaneko, who turned the laughable Gamera kaiju series into possibly the best giant monster movies ever made, reaches into the Japanese movie genre box and comes up with an entertaining if flawed "B" movie.

Simply put, the plot involves a woman with pyrokinetic powers who is on a quest to destroy a gang of sociopaths who torture and kill young woman. She comes under the protection of a mysterious man with different telekinetic powers who receives orders from someone else. Along the way we follow two oddball police detectives as they try to capture the gang and figure out who is crisping the gang to death.

Convoluted is a nice way to describe the twists and turns of the plot. There are a couple of scenes that don't make sense within the story. Some of the plot requires you to accept absurd coincidences and make ridiculous leaps of faith. The film "ESPY" had the same problems but as a movie it had a energy that made the problems go away while you watched it. Unfortunately, "Pyrokenesis" is not done that way, it's paced for a standard crime drama not a crazy action film. But overall it is very watchable.

Why? The characters are almost all very interesting and the actors are all very good. The female detective is a funny character. You wouldn't think it but cramming a half a dozen different film genres into the film actually helps it. The special effects are mostly excellent. Kaneko really has a way with special effects and integrating them into his films. The only let downs are the human burning scenes that repeat the same kind of effects over and over. In "Firestarter" every bad guy got burned in a different way.

It's entertaining, not great but fun.

Junko Aoki (Akiko Yada), is an average adopted shy young women, with one minor quirk: she can incinerate anyone in a ball of flame with but a thought. You see good old Junko was born with a certain brand of ESP called pyrokinesis. She falls for her co-worker Tada Kuzuki and feels a strong need to avenge the senseless death of Tada's younger sister when she's murdered by young street thugs. A chance encounter with a fellow ESPer, this one has telekinetic powers, an and offer to join a group of others called "The Guardians" starts a chain of events that will find poor Junko a target of the police. This film was like a Japanese version of "Firestarter", but a better and more mature take on the theme. VERY competently directed by Shusuke Kaneko and nicely acted, this rises above the source material to be an extremely enjoyable experience.

My Grade: B+

DVD Extras: Intro & Subtitled Commentary with Director Shusuke Kaneko; 19 and a half minute Interview with Shusuke; a 17 minute Making of; 8 Theatrical Trailers; and Trailers for "Kunoichi: Lady Ninja", "Versus", "Pistol Opera", & "Samuri Fiction"

First of all, this one is filed as "Horror", but I didn't find this too much of a horror, not much enough for claiming it to be a pure one. It felt more like a b-thriller, but it had its moment for sure. This movie is a bit special, and it is weird because I can't really put my finger and point out the elements that made this film good (average). When it was all over, I still felt touched by it. The plot is quite neat with some interesting conspiracy ideas, and besides the b-effects (who were a bit "too" much, ehm) there were some moments that I did found quite charming. It didn't turn out to be the movie I expected, but still a good time-killer. 6/10.