https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2010-03-19/982961/

SXSW Film

Daily reviews and interviews

By Ashley Moreno, March 19, 2010, Screens

Higanjima

Narrative Feature, SX Fantastic
D: Tae-Kyun Kim; with Hideo Ishiguro, Dai Watanabe, Asami Mizukawa, Koji Yamamoto

In Kim's film adaptation of Koji Matsumoto's manga of the same title, Akira's (Ishiguro) older brother, Atsushi (Watanabe), disappears. After two years, Akira learns from a new acquaintance, Rei (Mizukawa), that Akira's brother is alive, battling the undead in her home village on the vampire-infested island of Higanjima. Despite Rei's questionable intentions, Akira and his friends gather a few blunt objects and follow her to the hidden island in hopes of helping Akira's brother. Much gore, vampire-fueled explosions, and death scenes without bullets ensue. Suffice it to say, anyone worried they might not survive the long wait till this year's Fantastic Fest can dose up on black-and-red color schemes, sword fights, and shower scenes with this film. Since only total cranial destruction assuredly kills these vampires, I'd probably leave the kids at home.

Friday, March 19, 11:59pm, Lamar 2