Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013)

Why Don’t You Play in Hell?: Directed by Sion Sono. With Jun Kunimura, Fumi Nikaidô, Shin’ichi Tsutsumi, Hiroki Hasegawa. A renegade film crew becomes embroiled with a yakuza clan feud.

“Shion Sono, one of Japanu0026#39;s contemporary cult directors, makes a follow-up to cinephile hits like Suicide Club, Norikou0026#39;s Dinner Table, Strange Circus, Hair Extensions, Love Exposure, Coldfish and Himizu. After The Land of Hope, his idiosyncratic sci-fi drama shot around the Fukushima disaster, the transgressive Sono makes another instant cult hit with Why Donu0026#39;t You Play in Hell? This definitely wonu0026#39;t appeal to a mainstream audience and to be honest, at first I had quite some difficulties watching it myself. It all seems a bit over the top and because of that it felt amateuristic. On the other hand I suppose this is the authentic style Sono is known for. With some patience I endured the first half an hour. Once I got familiar with its peculiarities, irony, meta-references and subversive character, this film started to grow on me. Especially the part of the young movie team that has been procrastinating their film project for years; while this is more of a sideline to the story, Why Donu0026#39;t You Play in Hell? depends on it for its absurd climax. The only thing I couldnu0026#39;t get into was the over-the-top acting. Cool movie with a high DIY vibe, although not flawless.”