Gôsuto sukuwaddo

I tend to love this director's work, but it usually works so well because the whole thing is over the top craziness. Here we have this ultra serious plot, which grinds gears hard when we get to things like the "baby gun" Neither part is bad, they just don't mesh well.

At first, he was director for porns.

Then, he was director for movies which are so weird that you have to ask: "Was it made on drugs?" I mean movies like Dead Sushi, Zombie Ass or Robo Geisha. But then came Ghost Squad and I'm impressed how improved Iguchi's work is. Sure, some widget moments here and there has this film, too, but it's far more serious than his previous works and some scenes are real heartwretching tearjerkers, which you wouldn't expect from this man who is known for crazy stuff like the aformentioned films.

As an Iguchi-fan, I'm accustomed to his narmy, absurdly, funny, silly and over-the-top "art", but here, he is able to show that he can make me not only laughing, but also dealing with more emotional topics.

I'm surprised. Should this be a great step for Iguchi's career as director or will he go back to Sukeban Boy?

Initially I must admit that I had expected a tad more from "Ghost Squad" (aka "Gôsuto sukuwaddo") than what I ended up watching on the screen.

With that being said, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that "Ghost Squad" is a bad movie. It was entertaining enough for what it was, but it wasn't a particularly outstanding movie in the Japanese cinema.

The characters in the movie were for the most parts actually funny enough, but they weren't really given enough space to unfold themselves, given the limitations of the script and storyline.

As for the acting in the movie, well it was adequate. Especially when taking into consideration the type of movie that "Ghost Squad" is. Don't expect any outstanding award-winning performances here, though.

"Ghost Squad" is crammed with odd humor and weird effects, that is often seen in Japanese movies of this type. And it can be somewhat of an acquired taste, either you like it or you don't. Luckily I do like it.

However, there was just something missing from "Ghost Squad" to lift it up and out of the mediocre gutter. I can't really put my finger on what it was, but there was just something crucial missing from this movie. And as such, my rating of "Ghost Squad" lands on a very bland five out of ten stars.

"Ghost Squad" doesn't really have the contents to support a second viewing.

Yes, it's low budget, and the acting is just adequate, but it is sort of fun. There is a lot of comedy, but it does contain some serious subject matter, that isn't graphic but does touch on some stuff that might affect some people negatively, so there is your trigger warning. What is graphic is the gore, it is not too bad, but it might be something you don't want to see, most of it is at the end.

Just when you think you have a handle on the rules, something changes, which is probably a good thing, you never know what to expect. The girls are made up in white make up to appear as ghosts and have blood trails on their faces which sometimes change places. It does help you imagine that they are ghosts.

The movie is at least 15 minutes too long, and you can tell where they stretched out some scenes. They also spent more on special effects than on scenery, the special effects are good though.

This movie is enjoyable, it is weird and fun.

(there should be a trigger warning for those who might be affected by the serious subject matter and the gore)

After nearly dying in an accident, a young woman finds herself surrounded by a group of ghosts looking to get revenge on the group of men that initially killed them, and when she learns that she has a special ability to help them accomplish their goal joins them in their quest for revenge.

This one ended up with a lot to like about it. One of the best aspects of this one is the absolutely crazy and goofy storyline present throughout here. The main concept that focuses on the ghosts interacting with the girl in order to generate the energy required to take out their former killers serves as a rather bizarre situation that is rather well handled here. The film comes about due to each of the ghosts needing specific requirements from her in order to accomplish their revenge motive, including the need for her to be near-death in order for them to interact in the physical world and to engage in lesbian make-out sessions to draw enough energy that allows for some rather inventive sequences here. These rules and stipulations are placed upon us from the beginning which helps to ease the goofiness of the situation rather easily and prepare us to get used to the later introduction of the ghost hierarchy for allowing ghosts to cross into the afterlife instead of roaming Earth. This is far more involved than expected and really generates some intriguing plot points throughout here. As well, this fun setup is utilized to apply some rather bonkers and bizarre ghost action into the film. This is apparent from the very beginning where the two girls appear to save her in the restaurant and torment her abusive boyfriend in a slew of slapstick gags. The combination of silly slapstick leading into graphic bloodshed is repeated for the majority of their revenge sequences throughout the film, including the ambush on the first attacker in his apartment or the revenge on the bar owner. By having the girl sprout a meat-hammer on her hands and beat the hoodlum senseless in the privates or another girl producing a laser gun on her arm to blow up the bad guys, it becomes obvious this one aims for the balls-out insanity. When the other ghost joins in with a dog for a hand to begin biting and slashing up the rest of the crew using it, there's a full-on devotion to the silly and bizarre that the silliness present gives the scene a wholly enjoyable charm. The finale in their hideout, when the thugs return to even out the score only to meet the final revenge by the ghosts through their secret shame weapon, gives the film a truly wacky and silly action setpiece that ends this on a high note. Still, there are a few flaws here. The main issue is the absolutely overlong running time of this one, managing to go on way longer than it really should. Most of this is due to the heavily overdone use of sappy, saccharine montages showing the ghost girls remembering their past lives and focusing on their individual hang-ups about dying. These are usually inserted right in the middle of their revenge plots at the most crucial moments just before the main strike occurs, lessening the tension by switching out the bizarre antics and silly action for dramatic rants about dying and what it means to still live out your destiny. Not only does this ruin the moment but it also readily enhances the running time. The goofiness and cheesy effects that are featured here might not be for everyone as well and stands as another factor in this one.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.