Infection (2004) Kansen

Directed by Masayuki Ochiai

Starring Mari Hoshino, Tae Kimura, Yoko Maki

A run down hospital, a disgruntled and sometimes inept staff, an accidental death, an emergency admission with an unknown infection. Could this be the makings for a good film?

An inept director, a couple of actors incapable of acting, an attempt at a clever plot that is so badly paced you would have more fun attempting to shave with a cheese grater, oh and dont forget some really awful special effects. 

Before watching the film I checked over some of the cast interviews, one in particular said he was reprising a role hed played in a T.V. version but wasnt too sure how good his performance was in the film. Well I can happily confirm that his acting was absolutely dire (along with the majority of the cast).

I guess somebody has watched von Triers Kingdom and maybe a few too many episodes of the X-Files, whatever the cause theres no excuse for this steaming lump of bile. Theres certainly no reason why drivel like this gets released on dvd while a terrific number of far better Japanese films are left to rot.

As a final point, this is No.1 in a series called J-Horror and I did wonder why Tartan released it after releasing No.2 which was Premonition. Now I know why, if I had seen Infection first, theres very little chance I would have made the effort to see Premonition which although by no means a great movie, is far superior to this.

Recommended? About as recommended as eating frozen broccoli or sharing your bath with an electric toaster. 

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 15 (yet the dvd carries an 18 rating?) questionable marketing by Tartan again?

A bilious volume of extras including

Around 8 cast & crew interviews (good way to apportion blame).
Behind the scenes (learn how to direct a shot, badly!)
And quite a few other little bits and pieces.

The most horrifying thing about Infection is that someone out-there is actually going to part with his or her hard earned cash for it.