Red Secret Room

Red Room (1999)

*** (out of 4)

Extremely brutal and sometimes revolting Japanese horror film, which has gained a huge cult following over the years due to countless bootlegs but it finally got an official release here this week. The film is a cruel look at reality game shows and what limits people will go to in order to win the prize. In the case here the prize is ten-million yen and the object of the game is to be the last person standing. Four people play and all four draw cards. The one who draws the King must pick two others to torture each other. The game is over when three people quit or are dead. The "torture" starts out easy with two women kissing but as the film goes on each round gets more and more violent. There are two death scenes that will go down in horror history as some of the toughest to watch. I'm usually against these Japanese horror films that go for all torture but this one here actually has a pretty interesting story mixed in with the violence and there's actually several interesting plot twists. The film is hard to watch at times but the 68-minute running time goes by quickly. Original title: Akai misshitsu (heya): Kindan no ôsama geemu.

Red Room is an interesting blend of psychological thriller and torture themed horror, revolving around a semi-underground game show. Through the use of character development, and some rather interesting plot twists, it rises above the typical "torture porn" entry to achieve a genuine sense of dread and tension.

If you thought Hostel was a sick, depraved movie, then you had better steer clear of this film. It makes anything available in mainstream cinema seem incredibly tame, particularly in its use of graphic sexual violence. Indeed, if it weren't for the good characterization, it would be basically a really sadistic soft core porn film.

One thing to remember is to make certain to obtain a version with subtitles, or watch it with someone who speaks Japanese. Without the translation, the film will seem plot less and simply grotesque.

This is one of those movies that the reputation (gore) is not representative of the actual movie. Yes there is blood & guts though it's tame by horror movie standards. Don't be put off thinking it's an extreme horror.

Four people are locked in a red room to compete for (10 million Japanese Yen) $100,000. (Most movie descriptions say a $million but the characters say 10 million yen which in 1999 converts to about $100,000) They each draw cards with the person drawing the king gets to say what one person will do to another. The object being to get someone to quit. Each draw & action hopefully will reduce to the final survivor that wins the money. Of course, the action demanded starts rather tame and is never real outrageous but how it's performed is what goes much further.

Along the way we learn a bit about each character which are an interesting mix. More importantly we learn why they are willing to do whatever it takes for the money.

The cast was good. For Yuuki Tsukamoto who was very good you might notice this as her only movie. She has made a number of movies but those were adult videos. That does not mean this movie is more explicit though.

There are several sex scenes although none were particularly erotic yet they were important to the story.

This had the potential for being a great movie. First problem was one character was unbelievably stupid, way over the top. The other problem was some of the characters at times seemed to forget they were playing for $100,000. Really? Last, some of the sound effects added were horrendous. Especially when French kissing it made those scenes intolerable.

Still, it's one of those movies that you are kept on your toes watching for what happens next. Even some scenes that you think you know, you are surprised by what happens. It's not a long movie but it went by quick. I'm looking forward to watching Red Room 2. I say, check it out.

For those of you who have only seen an unsubtitled version, Daisuke Yamanouchi's "Red Room" is an entirely different film once you understand what is being said. The film changes completely from what appears to be a series of disconnected, vile, sadistic acts, to a deep, well thought out psychological horror film that packs a wallop.

It's still very strong stuff, but takes on new meaning with subtitles. Very highly recommended for fans of strong horror films, after seeing "Red Room" in its original form I am now seriously looking forward to more of Yamanouchi's work getting an official US release. Once again, Unearthed Films deserves huge credit!

"Red Room" is a low-budget, shot-on-video movie that is a "Guinea Pig" for the late-nineties. Despite a slow start, the film soon enters familiar territory as we see four players of the ultimate reality game show carry out acts of depravity, physical humiliation, violence and rape on one another in an attempt to win 10 million Japanese Yen (around $85,000).

While most of the unpleasantness will be nothing new to regular viewers of J-Horror, it's the plot of this straight-to-video production that makes the difference. A psychological exercise as well as a graphic one, "Red Room" actually manages to deliver a well-aimed punch to the viewer's senses.

Some people will hate this film due to its slow pace and lack of gore. The film has a slow-burn delivery of its content and it rewards the patient viewer.

Somehow, this politically incorrect film manages to titillate and appall at the same time. It's not to all tastes but is a tentative recommendation to fans of the "Guinea Pig" films and transgressive horror in general.

Curiously, while the unsavoury delights unfold on the screen, an up-beat, porn soundtrack is used. On top of this, the audio during scenes of intimacy is superbly vile, with over-the-top slurping noises used to great effect.

On the strength of this little film, I'll be checking out further Daisuke Yamanouchi movies in the future.

7 out of 10.