MovieChat Forums > Jisatsu sâkuru (2021) Discussion > The worst film I've ever watched.

The worst film I've ever watched.

posted 17 years ago by Mujah
74 replies | jump to latest

I saw this movie years ago, long before it was being sold in Hot Topic (I was still in high school). At the time, me and my best friend had never, ever had an argument yet on a matter of difference of opinion. Discussing this movie, we got to the point where we were shouting at each other in the middle of the street.
He thought that it was a beautiful, amazing, wise movie that was parodying the extremity of trendiness nowadays and how ridiculous it gets, while at the same time showing that life was indeed worth living, as symbolized by the one girl choosing life over death in the end.
I thought it was banal and disgusting, and was, for first and only time, infuriated by the movie. I understood the concept and what he was saying, but I thought it was being handled far too lightly and jokingly, and that the anti-suicide message was far, far, far too small in comparison to the minimalization of the impact of suicide throughout the rest of the movie.
This wouldn't have been nearly as much of an issue if he wasn't planning on showing this to one of our more depressed and occasionally suicidal friends. She was a good friend of both of ours, and while he thought that it would help her, I thought it could severely damage her in the state she was in.

Putting the infuriating fashion in which the movie jokingly handles an extremely serious topic aside, I'm not even worried about the movie because of its brash immaturity and insensitivity to the subject matter. I can ignore that, it doesn't affect me.
I'm more worried about the unstable people who will watch it and not be intelligent/sensible/stable enough to extract the anti-suicide message out from under the convoluted mess of what can VERY easily be interpreted as "suicide is funny and no big deal!"
It's dangerous, and disgusting, and the director's use of borderline-*guro* style to convey what he believes to be a very important message is a sign of immense irresponsibility and immaturity. I simply cannot approach this film with anything other than disgust.

It's because of this that I consider this to be the worst movie I've ever seen. It's not a matter of the skill or quality of the filmmaking methods, but a matter of the message and the execution of its intended purpose.
I simply can't get my head around the concept that people consider this to be a good movie by overlooking all of the negative aspects because of the "redeeming" ending.

That's the main point, but before ending this, I need to point out: I'm not a straight-edge, stuck-up kind of guy. Hell, I know what "guro" is. I was a fan of Troma films for a long time (and still kind of am). I love horror, especially gory horror. I like movies with social commentary, and actually enjoyed Battle Royale quite a bit, despite its occasionally pretentious and cheesy execution. I even own the book.
I'm a casual fan of Takashi Miike, and was very excited to hear that him and Gaspar Noe were toying with the idea of making a movie together. I love disturbing films, and am always actively searching for more.
So please, don't discount my negative view of Suicide Club to be because I can't handle it, or because I don't get it. I get it. I just think it was stupid and incredibly irresponsible film conceived by a very immature and pretentious individual.

Alright. Let loose the dogs of war.

[–] arsalhyder18-1 17 years ago

I was in severe depression when I watched this film, and it helped me a lot. It cheered me up. And now it's one of my most favourite movies of all time.

If life isn't beauty, then what is?

[–] Mujah 17 years ago

And you're proof that there is an audience that the film can actually reach properly. I'm very glad for you, but that doesn't mean you're the majority.

[–] Banana_Flavoured_Pants 16 years ago

"And you're proof that there is an audience that the film can actually reach properly. I'm very glad for you, but that doesn't mean you're the majority."

Just because you're in the majority doesn't mean you're right.

Though I'd like you to point out the number of suicides that are linked to this film, because right now the therapeutic score for this film is 1 - 0 for the positive side. In short don't be pretentious enough to put out your own thoughts as facts without any empirical evidence. Also I wouldn't ever assume you know what an artist is trying to achieve and has objectively failed, especially when kaempfer has explained his own assumption of the artists vision, and how the cinematography compliments it.

On the same note don't assume art has to be positive, and if it's negative it's terrible or irresponsible. That said I can't see how you could think this would have any affect of the type of suicide people you mentioned earlier. Anybody who was "intelligent" wouldn't ignore the ending of the film, unless they had already fallen into a similar state of mind as the Columbine shooters you mentioned earlier where almost anything could influence them.

[–] rpgking 16 years ago

all of your posts are long and pretentious o_o . . . (sarcasm)

[–] Banana_Flavoured_Pants 16 years ago

If they're not pretentious what are they? o_0

[–] ysd508-1 16 years ago

This and some japanese movies including Battle Royal are too cartoonic. I was like reading a comic book.. not watcing a movie. The kids are the members of suicide club who try to convince and make adults to kill themselves??? and the adults admit and commit suicide??????????????? What the hell? It is not just realistic. There are also many plot holes that make people hard to understand the movie.

After reading some reviews, I found about the intended purpose of the movie. But it is too fake, unrealistic and stupid!

Somebody said that the suicide club is good movie because it gets recognition and fame from many countries. Yeah.. they get some because they are discusting and disturbing and the concept of suicide is interesting... but their rates are low!

Me Too! I would rate it overall 4/10 or 5/10. Give me back my one hour and thirty minutes of my life!

[–] Mujah 16 years ago

Seconded.

[–] Kawada_Kira 9 years ago

It is not just realistic.

Realistic? Wtf... It's not MEANT to be realistic. It's meant to be symbolic. It isn't a documentary.

 Sig under construction 

[–] ChillDude22 16 years ago

I hated this movie to death. I'm not just talking about the message it sends to its audience, but it basically has no plot at all. 54 kids die, then moves on the next scene. 2 nurses die, then moves on the next scene. It's all crappy scenes put together without a purpose. It's not even art. Isn't art creativity? Where's the creativity there when the movie doesn't even know what it's portraying?

[–] Banana_Flavoured_Pants 16 years ago

It's not even art because it's not creative? Raff, it's not creative to you because you're not looking it like others do, you're not seeing what others see, and the same applies too ever other art form. Not every person can appreciate every singe piece of art out there, hell, not all art's made to be appreciated in the first place, needless to say it doesn't make it any less art.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Mujah 16 years ago

Thank you, Wanderer. It's always good to see like-minded folk around. ^_^
I did also get some interesting responses to my statements, though. Be sure to check them out if you haven't already. The conversation and debate is the best part of these forums, especially when both sides have an advocate who is willing to go more in-depth with each reply.

[–] munir-7 16 years ago

First let me confess that I do like Suicide Club, it belongs to my all time favourites.
But I went through this board because I wanted to hear what people have to say against it.
The main conclusion I arrived at was: we all (and that probably includes all human beings, it certainly includes myself) - we all see just what we want to see. I have a certain opinion, certain beliefs, a way of looking at life. Okay.
Before watching a movie the first time, I've maybe heard of it, maybe I'm convinced it should be like "this & that". The opening then rises certain expectations, it may turn me on or off. From that moment on I'm in a certain mood, not just an observer anymore, but dealing with my own conceptions of "what has to happen now". Sort of a dialogue. If I feel my unconscious questions are answered as the film goes on, I'll be satisfied. I feel somehow, those who made this film understand me. That's what art means!

So I beg you all: never say about a film (or a book, or a painting, or a piece of music): This is not art. Someone may find the answers in it they were looking for.
Maybe you think: this is just boring, this is shallow. Maybe it isn't made for you.
Maybe you say: this piece or "art" is disgusting, irresponsible, should be banned ... You're already in the process of "dialogue" with it! Art doesn't have to please! Art doesn't have to fulfill expectations. The artist is the visionary mind of humanity. He's most definitely not responsible for how people might react. (I'm living in a country where in the Thirties books & paintings have been publically burnt because they were "degenerate art". So I'm really sensitive on this point.)
I might add that I find it strange though that this film (and others of that kind) are sold to everyone in the USA. In most other countries of the world you have to be at least 18 years old to be allowed to purchase a copy or to enter a theatre where it is shown. And if you buy a DVD and show it to your younger friends or children, at least you are informed that you're doing something you shouldn't.

As far as Suicide Club is concerned, there are so many misconceptions. It is not about suicides. It is not about today's Japanese society. It is not a satire. It is not a story.
Someone in this discussion mentioned the team of cops trying to find the source of that which threatens society outside. He's right at it! That's our normal mind, seeking a "natural" explanation for everything, whereas the real demon is already eating us up from inside!
In the whole film there's only one REAL suicide, and that is Kuroda shooting himself. All the others are metaphorical.

[–] rodimus07 16 years ago

the director had intended for this movie to be "uplifing" with a message that one should never lose their desire for life.
for me, this is a very depressing movie, one thing I shouldn't do was to watch it at 1 AM in the morning. It's too chilling to watch alone in wee hours.

if the director had wanted his anti-suicide ideas to show though then this movie was just too depressing to have the viewers having any positive thoughts at the end. Add the craziness of the movie nature, it's easier not to take the film too seriously than to try to understand the director and movie ideas.

regarding the end which many think is the movie positive end in which the gal chose life over death. It's a matter of presumptions. what I think it show the detective choosing to let go because at the end suicide was up to the individuals and outsiders can only have so much influence.

[–] munir-7 16 years ago

Interesting your interpretation about the end. Until now that never occured to me.
I see this:
1) There's a very subtle love story between the two. Remember the sequence where Mitsuko is in the Police Station?
2) Shibu pretends to protect her but in fact impulsively grabs her hand because he fears they might never meet again.
3) She shakes off his hand, telling him with her glance: You Idiot. He's somewhat confused and embarrased.
4) The train leaves, the last glance between them -
a) is of a shy and very youth-like mutual sympathy,
b) indicates that they share some secret understanding of what's really going on (being the only ones in the whole film). But Sion Sono is wise enough not to explicate this.

I agree, this movie can be very depressing. But many horror movies would be quite depressing if they were better made.

[–] rodimus07 16 years ago

toward the end, showing the gal choosing to live show that it's never too late for one to start living. Life is also an option other than Death for the previous characters.
The detective letting the gal go and understanding that he could do no more reflected that of Sion Sono real life when his best friend suddenly committed suicide. Maybe the end was his own answer for himself - suicide was personal and outsiders wouldn't help much to prevent that.

To live no matter what ( gal ) and self forgiveness ( detective ) for those whose loved ones commit sucide.
The movie was too depressing but the director positive messages was delivered in that last few moments.

[–] shinnyaii 16 years ago

In someway i completely agree with you. I found the film to be amazing, the story and message behind it was a good one indeed but the way it was shown could have been better. I remember when i was depressed and watched this film, it made me seriously consider suicide. I understood the concept at the time but i was still in the wrong state of mind. I enjoyed the film, and i still like it to this day. But i agree that it might have some mature content and shouldnt be shown to a person already effected with somesort of mental illness D:

[–] leeconferido 15 years ago

Worst film, no, not really. Badly executed, yes. I was interested only at the first half, no, first ten minutes, until the movie went haywire. It was like 5 different plot into one movie. Just as I was beginning to root for the Chief Inspector, he shot himself. What the hey! Originality wise, this one is tops for me.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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