Visitor Q

The films of Takashi Miike are growing in popularity amongst the genre community, his films seem to capture the essence of human deviant nature in varying levels - so with the unofficial DVD debut of 'Visitor Q' would we be getting yet another insight into the deprived side of human life? Well of course we would...

The film opens with a young prostitute and her client going through the process of getting down to business - the frisky young harlet candidly snaps away with her camera while she discusses with him the differing services and their prices. The sexual tension grows to its peak and after consummating their business we soon discover that her client is in fact her own dear father! Cut to the father sitting at the train station, behind him at the window is a young yobbo weighing up different rocks - he finds the right weighty one, opens the window and cracks it over the fathers head! Cut to the fathers home were we meet both his wife and teenage son - mom's a junkie who is regularly beaten by her cleanliness obsessed son, son's being bullied by the his school peers and dad's just brought home his rock wielding assailant to stay for a few days...and so the scene is set!

For years the media has quaintly labelled the cartoon family 'The Simpson' as the epitome of the dysfunctional family but in truth the family ensemble in 'Visitor Q' is infinitely more so. Drugs, incest, violence, sexual deviancy and so much more - all under the one unstable household in this darkly bleak but also tastelessly amusing film.

At times a real eye opener, 'Visitor Q' is one of the surprise joys in sick black comedy that I've seen in quite some time. Although at times you wonder if Miike is intentionally trying to push the viewers' moral senses to their limit, it's never blatantly excessive or pointlessly forced upon you. In fact although there is plenty of deviancies on show it is in fact more a psychological assault than an out and out graphic venture. And when the film reaches its conclusion there is much to satisfy both the genre fan as well as the candid art house viewer.

Stylish, shocking and relentlessly depraved, 'Visitor Q' is a bleak but fun movie that will stay in your mind long after viewing. Well cast, nicely directed and wholly engrossing - perhaps not for the traditional mainstream horror fan but those of you that like things more on the bizarre side of things.

As far as the disc goes, for what is obviously a bootleg release (and compared to the likes of the somewhat shoddy 'Versus' release) this is actually quite satisfying. Like 'Versus', the disc contains nothing but the film but there are no complaints as unlike 'Versus' the picture and sound quality is definitely acceptable. Looking much like a strong video master transfer, there's no visible image or sound dropout that is noticeable and both are quite strong throughout. As to be expected from a bootleg release there are no extras, just the film and that's your lot.

So, if you're a fan of Takashi Miike's work then you should be happy with this one as it will keep you happy until a more definitive official release becomes readily available. Otherwise, fans of black humour bizarre comedy should find this a tasteless but pleasing affair also. I loved it - check it out.

Review by Alan Simpson