The Forest of Love

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Lesbian action check, sadomasachism check, grizzly murders with graphic butchery check, older man younger girls check, girls saying no but always meaning yes check. Parts of it very good but sadly large parts of it seem to be aimed at misogynists. I think when films try to balance between teen romance and full blown Japanese insanity they fail. Either pick one or the other.

Writer/director/editor Sion Sono's latest is based on convicted serial killer Futoshi Matsunaga, here renamed Joe Murata in the film and played exquisitely by Kippei Shîna with Sono's direction. Murder, *, mutilation, self-harm, s&m, torture, gore, sex, control, extortion and more occur with irony, inevitability and imagination. Sono's masterpiece Cold Fish (2010) and grim & beautiful Guilty of Romance (2011) are also based on true stories, but let's be clear, his take on these stories are most likely far from reality. He is able to twist the facts to create details, dialogue, themes, strong characters and storytelling. Antiporno (2016) and Noriko's Dinner Table (2005) are his best stories not based on circumstantial facts and are perhaps even better because of it, although Cold Fish will remain one of the best and shocking movies for decades. (See my 2010 review: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2469898/) The movie is slow to start with a prologue and long chapter 1. We get to know the characters and dig into the childhood of two friends from an all-girl school. Some scenes are reminiscent of Suicide Club (2001) and Love Exposure (2008) yet darker and deliberate. On the other side, we are introduced to three young men filmmakers and finally, properly to Joe Murata after 20 minutes. Joe is both charming and alarming. An important scene from the shared childhood happens just before the 40 minutes mark. Chapter 2 (from 52 to 60 mins) is where the filming of Joe Murata's life begins for the film festival contest the students want to enter and is also where this film starts to take a new beginning by finally exposing Murata's penchant and proclivities. Chapter 3 (from 60-70 mins) is perhaps the best chapter as it confirms the power and powerlessness at play and will set the tone for the rest of the movie. Chapter 4 (from 70-127 mins) is a descent into depravity, absurdity, pity, envy, sadness and self-delusion with events after events of evocative imagery and daring directing. Finale (from 127-148 mins) still has plenty of surprises and worthy twists. The story will reveal more from all the chapters and the extent of the well-crafted piece will come to life. The second half and ending are positively well-worth to longish running time. Still, if you have not seen a Sono film with sex, violence and gore or are opposed to these ideas to be depicted in your living room, skip this Netflix Original and find something tamer. Thank you, Mr. Sono for staying true to your vision with this one. Now let's see what will come out of his first English-language film Prisoners of the Ghostland (2020), already in post-production, and how he uses sexy and talented Sofia Boutella to tell a tale he didn't write for once. Guilty of Romance (2011)

Utter waste of time, I cant believe is the same mind as strange circus, he must have suffered a stroke. Spoilers It wastes 2 and half hours of your life Horrible acting Script that can only be described as mentally disabled.

THE FOREST OF LOVE is the latest offering from Japanese director Sion Sono, who seems to be up there with Takashi Miike in producing completely offbeat and unpredictable movies. This one's diluted somewhat, a film which feels less original than the director's previous output; it doesn't help that many key scenes seem to be copied from earlier movies like SUICIDE CLUB and COLD FISH. In many ways this makes THE FOREST OF LOVE feel more like a 'greatest hits' compilation than a proper movie. It's certainly disjointed, starting out as one kind of film before turning into another completely, and there's a disparate array of characterisation, torture, voyeurism, gore, romance, betrayal and flawed psychology. The characters are quite repulsive but Sono's flamboyant and energetic style goes some way towards making this viewable.

I gave this a try because I was interested in the real life story this was based on. However, I could not even make it pass the 30 minute mark. The acting and directions are absolutely laughable. Utter trash, do not waste your time.

...I decided to write something regarding the 1 and 2 stars that others put. For what I read they do not aware of Sono s films and style. They do not understand Japanese pop culture too. How they can go to a film so blinded and then let a comment here as they kno w something about that type of cinema? I prefer to not comment about the plot but as mentioned is inspired in a serial killer from the late 90s. -The films is long; longer than most Japanese ones but maintain the expectations. Actors are pretty good in their rolls. Color palette and tense music are spot on.