Movies are awesome, right? A lot of you would agree. I would even bet a good handful of you think Japanese films are notably well-made. Hard to argue there! And there are so many unique genres! Jidaigeki, Pinku, Tokusatsu. What about Guro? An even smaller, disturbed handful of you are thinking “yeah… that’s my shit”. Guy is one of you freaks. His humble efforts began online; reviewing and discussing film in a subculture fanscape worth its own examination – the Gorehounds.
Taking cues from extreme Japanese filmmakers like Hideshi Hino (MERMAID IN A MANHOLE), Shinya Tsukamoto (the TETSUO series), Shozin Fukui (964 PINOCCHIO) and Spectacle Favorite Takashi Miike (come on now), Guy threw himself headfirst down the greasy, grimy pipeline we all love and cherish – Film Fan to Film Maker.
After leaving England for Osaka, Guy emerged on the other side: covered in entrails clutching a fistful of lovely hand-sculpted films we know you will enjoy – especially you Gorehounds. This April, we are happy to present SCULPTING FRAGMENTS: THREE FILMS, featuring the claustrophobanoid DIFFICULTY BREATHING, the creepycute buzzfest THE SOUND OF SUMMER, and the surreal found footage postcard to urbexing THE UNSOLVED LOVE HOTEL MURDER CASE INCIDENT, co-directed by friend and fellow transplant Dave Jackson (director of CAT SICK BLUES). Only at Spectacle, as usual!
DIFFICULTY BREATHING
(呼吸困難)
Dir. Guy. 2017.
Japan. 41 min.
In Japanese with English subtitles.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 – MIDNIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 21– 10 PM
MONDAY, APRIL 27 – 7:30 PM
After suffering a traumatic event, one woman finds herself swallowed by darkness and tormented by forces inside her very own home. DIFFICULTY BREATHING is a thriller on the verge of a nervous breakdown; as chilling and eerie as REPULSION or Tsukamoto’s KOTOKO but at the fraction of the cost (and cast). Turn it up LOUD for an exquisite experience in Noise Cinema.
Stick around after the show for Guy’s first short film…
THE ROPE MAIDEN
(ロープ処女)
Dir. Guy. 2013.
Japan/UK. 17 min.
In English and Japanese.
A sendoff of the infamous GUINEA PIG series, Guy teaches the audience how to make the perfect snuff film. Thanks Guy!
THE SOUND OF SUMMER
(夏バテ女)
Dir. Guy. 2022.
Japan. 70 min.
In Japanese with English subtitles.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3 – 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 – 10 PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 25 – MIDNIGHT
In the dead heat of Japanese summer, a shadowy vagrant known only as The Cicada Man stalks the streets of town, carrying a freshly caught swarm of creepy crawlies wherever he goes. After a strange encounter between the collector and our heroine, the mysteries of the Cicada Man and what he does with his trophies really starts to get under her skin… literally!
THE UNSOLVED LOVE HOTEL MURDER CASE INCIDENT
(ドキュメント！ 未解決ラブホ殺人事件)
Dirs. Dave Jackson, Guy. 2024.
Japan. 70 min.
In English and Japanese with English subtitles.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9 – 10 PM
FRIDAY, APRIL 17 – MIDNIGHT
THURSDAY, APRIL 23 – 7:30 PM
After recounting a scary story to Guy and Dave over drinks, Kuromi and her two friends set off to the country on a ghost hunting adventure in order to document, investigate, and hopefully solve THE UNSOLVED LOVE HOTEL MURDER CASE INCIDENT. Upon arrival, the crew quickly discover that nothing is what it seems as reality collapses around them. FFO: THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, INLAND EMPIRE, travelogues, & delinquent activities.