Reviews

I was a big fan of Takashi Miike well before this film arrived back in 2010. He was known for his obscure, sadistic, erotic, sometimes comedic yet wildly original low budget Yakuza films. But this film elevated him, in my eyes, into a master of the form. This had his DNA ingrained within a very beautiful shot, written and perfectly performed film of rare quality. Not only did this grip me on an emotional level, but when the swordplay ensued it is some of the greatest Samurai battles ever produced. I would argue the final engagement is the most beautifully choreographed Samurai battle ever filmed. I can't recommend this movie enough, truly a gem.

This film is a dark satirical dream of interwoven stories within a dystopian hellhole. It's a grim fairytale book of Orwellian doom yet oddly hilarious at times. Undergods is flawlessly written, perfectly casted, creatively scored and a true hidden gem of cinema. The world parallels our own with its depiction of "normal" society in which a mistake could easily kill you or throw you into the dark hell of society's underbelly. A place unthinkable until you are trapped within that nightmare. I truly hope that one day this beautiful masterpiece will find its proper place within the halls of cult cinema.