It's not especially good, but it is Yoshiaki Kawajiri. For completists only and also maybe for people who could be surprised by more Kawajiri. I think I'm less lenient on anime nowadays that I've seen enough and understand what I think is actually good and what is not good but I still enjoy.
If you showed me this in high school and asked for a rating, I'd probably go 7 or 8. I think that's important because Kawajiri persistently taps into the quintessential feeling of that anime. That's the thing about the way anime like this feels. Maybe I'm biased as hell but there is a palpable temporality when you watch Kawajiri films. And you can't take that away.
The story is fine with obvious flaws. But another Kawajiri hallmark is the atmosphere he is able to consistently channel. Even in a flawed movie, towards the end when they're being hunted, there's some great tonal execution. Tone is actually consistent overall which allows the movie to feel less flawed with its short runtime. Even things I may have found annoying in other movies, like the college student flirting with the professor ended up more positive than negative because it added texture to the characters.
The violence is relatively sparse, it felt like to me. But especially towards the end, it's very good. Another Kawajiri hallmark. No one decapitates people quite like him. God of animated violence maybe?
It's not especially good, but it is Yoshiaki Kawajiri. For completists only and also maybe for people who could be surprised by more Kawajiri. I think I'm less lenient on anime nowadays that I've seen enough and understand what I think is actually good and what is not good but I still enjoy.
If you showed me this in high school and asked for a rating, I'd probably go 7 or 8. I think that's important because Kawajiri persistently taps into the quintessential feeling of that anime. That's the thing about the way anime like this feels. Maybe I'm biased as hell but there is a palpable temporality when you watch Kawajiri films. And you can't take that away.
The story is fine with obvious flaws. But another Kawajiri hallmark is the atmosphere he is able to consistently channel. Even in a flawed movie, towards the end when they're being hunted, there's some great tonal execution. Tone is actually consistent overall which allows the movie to feel less flawed with its short runtime. Even things I may have found annoying in other movies, like the college student flirting with the professor ended up more positive than negative because it added texture to the characters.
The violence is relatively sparse, it felt like to me. But especially towards the end, it's very good. Another Kawajiri hallmark. No one decapitates people quite like him. God of animated violence maybe?
