TAG - A High School Splatter Film

I never would have seen this movie or known of it's existence without my kids. My daughter showed me a clip from the first 10 minutes, and I was hooked, because I had to know what was going on. From then on, it was silly and juvenile but every now and then very unexpected things would happen. I'm not sure if this is deemed a horror or sci-fi, but the Japanese film industry sure is different, and occasional worth diving into. I'm glad I watched it, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

Good premise, tho I've seen this plot in other movies, can't name them cause I'd spoil too much, so I'll try to explain why I disliked it without giving the idea away.

If you're heavily into Asian horror movies, especially those with a Japan touch on them, it could just happen that you'll enjoy this. But as it moves forward it starts to look like a dream, where your feet are running yet you go nowhere, time starts to stand still and everything else catches you from behind. Slowly and surely it drags itself for too long, getting harder to watch, or just to keep you eyes opened to be honest.

It will happen that this movie actually ends at some point, but when you'll realize what this is all about, the idea outside the idea of the movie, the seed from where it all began, well, this is a split road right here. Either go full in or go back.

Cheers!

If you like to look at hot girls running, this is a movie for you, as that makes up about 80 % of the movie, there's also a lot of pillow fighting, but also a lot of gore and violence. There is a plot in between of all that, but it doesn't make that much sense and I don't think it is supposed to. There is also a "twist" and some kind of a gender issue message at the end, but honestly I am not sure. I'd say if you're going to watch this movie - just turn off your mind and enjoy the scenery.

With an opening sequence that tops 'Suicide Club" in shock value, aesthetics and eeriness, "Tag" targets a gore-hungry audience, but goes deeper with the many philosophical and psychological themes of determinism, power, fear, reality and identity.

"Tag" tackles greater issues than most films and does so well with a brisk pace that takes the viewer along the joyride (or hellride depending on how you see it) and makes him/her identify with the lead character's distress. The three leads who play the same persona are very well cast and effective in edging us into our seats. Their acting is grounded while the rest of the movie is often over the top at parts.

The daring premise, edgy editing, themes and tones are strong, yet Sono falls slightly short of his best work by making a clearly uneven piece at times with some easy thrills and instances with little coherence or content sneaking in. He proves showy, self-indulgent, eager to please the crowd and even uses questionable short-cuts instead of going deeper into the surreal, suspenseful and sublime narrative.

We are left with many questions like many of Sono's films, but in this case, we also understand that perhaps he could have asked himself more questions in the making in order to overcome some unwanted extraneous confusion and loss of focus. This is especially troublesome as it clocks less than 90 mins (uncharacteristic for long-winded Sono - see 237 mins "Love Exposure" as extreme example) and still shows some filler farce instead of sure hit fire-power.

Some superficial moments over subtlety and substance holds this film back, but the brute force and fantastic screen-writing and directing defy denying this fresh film its place into the pantheon of path-breaking provocative piece of cinema.

Despite its minor and more blatant flaws, this film holds well to a metaphorical mirror and is not in search of identity like its main character. It is disconnected beyond its useful purpose, but parades around arguably able to arouse sympathy and separately speak volume on our psychological individual and societal brink of breakdown.

Try to be spontaneous. Accept the surreal and tolerate the slapstick and silliness.

Japan 2015 | 85 mins | FANTASIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | DCP | Japanese (English subtitles)

Tag is a horror film filled with illogical ideas that make you wonder if the protagonist is dreaming or trapped in hell. The final twist-that the main character is a video game character-feels like a weak answer to the film's mysteries and left me disappointed. Unless we accept the idea that the protagonist is an AI agent, alive and self-aware, the ending falls flat. Only then can we consider artificial intelligence as truly living and possessing identity.