Meatball Machine

Deranged and graphically gory Japanese film about little beings taking people over and turning them into necroborg-zombie like machines- which beat and hack each other apart so that the winner can eat the loser. In the middle of this a pair of lovers become infected. Technically superb horror comedy(?) is only for those with strong stomachs as blood and body parts go flying. Good taste prevents me from describing what happens here, but lets just say its pretty gruesome. If you like this sort of thing with form several steps above slender content by all means see this film. Personally I'm not normally one to enjoy films like this on anything but the how sick and twisted do they go level. Here I was intrigued enough that I can suggest it to people I know who like really gory movies.. Its also a film with enough going on in the details that I want to see it again since now that I know what was going on-as revealed in the end-I want to go back and see what it was I didn't catch on to. There is an internal logic rare in these films. 7ish out of 10 for those who like blood and severed limbs, its a zero or more precisely a run and hide alert for everyone else.

Some may feel that the rating i have just given is a bit generous, but for what this film is i think the directors have done a good job with that they had available to them, this is also a film a film of an acquired taste! my immediate thought was the direct connection to the classic cult film 'The Thing' i.e the parasitical aliens from outta space, infesting human host to then reek havoc wherever possible! You can see how this film pays homage to such a film and others of the horror/gore genre, however cleverly maintains its own originality, well these things fight each other for one and then continue to eat then fallen rival! Only killing and picking a human when it needs a new host! To then pick another fight with another infected host! And this film even throws in a love story but i wont say no more otherwise it gives too much away. GREAT! But like i said of an acquired taste, so don't be surprised if you don't like the film. It is low budget and yes it is blood thirsty, with the creatures/aliens/things morphing their limbs into crude looking weapons, i.e saws, drills, blades and even the odd gun to all but decimate there opponent. I found myself cringing at what i was being shown but at the same time glued to the screen wondering what was going to happen next! So if you like gore, you like aliens, you like fighting and even maybe a little bit of love thrown in somewhere, then i must recommend this film as a must see. I just wish i came across this earlier then i did!

Yudai Yamaguchi keeps showing up on our site, but when you make movies like Battlefield Baseball and Versus, you get as many entries as you want. Based on the 1999 film written, produced and directed by Junichi Yamamoto, this film has two geeky would-be lovers who never really get together, as Sachiko ends up penetrated not by Yoji, but by the NecroBorg in his room. Instead of the love that they wanted to experience, they must battle to the death, and by battle to the death, I mean a war that explodes viscera and blood and meat and organs all over the place. As a kid, I always dreamed of getting to transform into something better, like Ultraman, but the reality would probably be that I'd be one of these gory creations, battling for the joy of some high pitched alien floating in space that can't wait to eat me. This isn't the kind of movie I'd watch on a first date, unless you've found a partner that likes movies that have ten minute long grossout fights and try to make Tetsuo into something directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis. And if you find them, keep that unicorn and treat them like the magical and special royalty they assuredly are.

Don't be fooled by the silly title folks, this is one sweet ride! A true successor to Tetsuo the Iron Man and Ichi the Killer, this gem starts with a bang and lays the gore on thick until the credits roll. It seems that aliens are taking over people's bodies and modifying them into war-machines, which are then used to fight each other in a twisted game for the amusement of their species. The winner of the battle eats the loser alive. That's mostly it for plot, but who cares when the gore is this good? I have no idea how many buckets of slime were used, but it's disgusting to behold. There is interesting and effective use of stop-motion when the takeovers are in progress, and loving care is lavished on all of the creature and make-up effects. The CGI is a bit limited, but that actually doesn't detract from the overall quality one bit, at least for me. This was truly a fun and stomach-turning film that deserves much praise, and has truly earned its place in the stack of Cult Classics. Find it and watch, you won't be disappointed!

This must be the first in my life I've ever seen relatable and fragile characters as the protagonists of this type of movie, usually relegated to kickass one-liners spewing macho men or women a là Doom Guy or Ellen Ripley (funny, considered this movie was clearly influenced by Alien and Invasion of the Body Snatchers). For that alone, this movie gets 1000% my approval. Hollywood and America please take notes...once again.

"Meatball Machine" Have you ever wanted to see a film based solely on the positives you created in your own head? Completely ignoring any cinematic standards or any reviews written on the film? Because, of course, your going to believe what you want to believe anyway. This way of thinking is very true in my case and for my latest film review for the Japanese shock film "Meatball Machine" 'Meatball Machine" is another film among the ranks of the Tokyo Gore- splatter film genres, with a pinch of Sci-Fi. I was curiously drawn to the film solely on genre, but more specifically because Japanese Effects Director Yoshihiro Nishimura helms the ever so, not so easily forgotten style of excessive blood, mutations of grandeur and everything perverse his big brain can throw at you. In this case the film is a complete success for it's costumes and effects. I've come to the realization that the best way to judge Nishimura's FX work is to base it strictly on a physiological basis. If you feel a little queasy or your stomach mildly turns, then the film is usually pretty good. If you experience any worse symptoms then the aforementioned, you better settle in and expect a wild ride. As for the remainder of the film.... I'll get to that a bit later...after the jump! "Meatball Machine" pits a young machine worker "Yoji" ( Issei Takahashi) as a lonely member of society. He's not great with the ladies and frequents adult theaters only to receive advancements from a transvestite. When a friend attempts to cheer him up and brings him to a brothel to de-virginize him, he walks out before anything happens. On a daily basis he longs across a field at the affection of his desire, a young women, a co-worker whom he cannot muster enough courage to share his feelings. This sub-plot plays second fiddle to the meat of the story that explodingly connects a bit later in the film. Japan has become infested with parasitic alien creatures that inhabit and take control of human hosts, and when one of the host bodies are met face to face with another, a fight to the death ensues...oh and the winner rips out the alien parasite and eats it upon victory (yeah. not a real family friendly film). One of the more eventful scenes in the film is when a alien is found by "Yoji" outside the * theatre. He brings it home and puts it in his closet. When he invites his affection home with him, it rears it's ugly head, and horrible scorpion tail, that it inserts inside her *, spewing the alien parasite inside her to take control of her. I swear, maybe it was just me, but it looked like she actually took pleasure when that elephants trunk stinger penetrated her Hoo Hoo....eww! This sequence sets off a chain of events that is "Meatball Machine" Co-Directors Yudai Yamaguchi and Jan'ichi Yamamoto create this concoction based on earlier work written, produced and directed by Yamamoto in 1999. Their science experiment Circa 2005 starts very well- with elements of horrific, excessive gore, violence and welcomed extremism. My first thoughts were " I'm in for gory, gory, goodness". Like this head split in two!!!!!( Not the best Photo) Overall the direction was moderately constructed-Costume and Effects were pleasantly expected. The Writing at times, I felt lacked in originality and direction, at times becoming loose, making the pace and energy of the film misplaced. The love story, sub-plot was refreshingly agreeable for sheer ironic purposes. In conclusion the film is a success for any fan of the Japanese bloody madness genre. A little too weird in subject matter for my taste, but it is worth watching....once! BruceVain

Directors and writers Yudai Yamaguchi who also wrote another classic flick versus 2000 and Jun'ichi Yamamoto have created a gem in Meatball Machine. Starring Issei Takahashi who was also in other classic flicks, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 2003 and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 2004. Also starring Aoba Kawai. I enjoyed the special effects. If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic alien creature flicks, Alien 1979, Aliens 1986, Alien: Resurrection 1997, Peacemaker 1990, Alien Raiders 2008, AVP: Alien vs. Predator 2004, Altered 2006, Avatar 2009, Bad Taste 1987, Battle Los Angeles 2011, The Blob 1988, Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977, Cloverfield 2008, Dark City 1998, The Day of the Triffids 1962, District 9 2009, Doom 2005, The Faculty 1998, Feast 2005, Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds 2008, The Hidden 1987, Dark Angel 1990, Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1978, The Mist 2007, Night of the Creeps 1986, Phantoms 1998, Predator 1987, Predator 2 1990, Predators 2010, Progeny 1998, Signs 2002, Skyline 2010, Society 1989, Splinter 2008, The Thing 1982, This Island Earth 1955, Dark Breed 1996, Dark Skies 2013, Honeymoon 2014, The Thing 2011, Super 8 2011, A Quiet Place 2018, Attack the Block 2011, Brightburn 2019, Prey 2022 and War of the Worlds 1953.

Most of the feedback I've heard concerning Meatball Machine has been pretty mixed. A couple even saying that they think "it sucked". Well, to those people I say, get some f@ckin imagination and go * yourself. This was a very entertaining flick. The story starts with this mechanical bug which attacks and somehow transforms its hosts into these Gwar-costume looking, deathbots called Necroborgs. Eventually you learn that these mechanical bugs also attach a little parasite onto you, which then is able to control your actions due to hot-wiring your nervous system. Unfortunately for two love-seeking lonely young adults, they happen to cross paths with the mechanical bug, and before you know it transformations are taking place and blood is being splattered. Is there a way to stop the transformation? Maybe a way to stop this mechanical bug threat? Why do the Necroborgs fight one another? Do the two desperate singles get to express their feelings for one another and do the nasty? Only one way to find out. Going into Meatball Machine I was kinda wary due to the mixed reactions, but it turned out being a great surprise. A few unanswered questions, some average acting at times and a slightly confusing ending are the only weak points I can think of. From the anime feel to it, to the parasites becoming little characters themselves and even to the low budget feel, this movie hits the right mark much more than it misses. With a ever-developing story that's interesting enough to keep oneself asking questions throughout mixed with the cool make-up effects and blood splatter, this is one flick fans of bizarro/horror/Tetsuo/splatter fans should check out. 8 outta 10

This movie is pretty sick. There's lot's of disgusting gore and more jiggling latex prosthetics than most B-Budget horror flicks out there, but the story is pretty aimless. There are several moments where it seems as if the only purpose of the actors is to remind the viewer that they are watching a live-action movie. Besides these flaws, which may only be minor for some people, the movie does possess a certain coolness, which shines primarily in the "fight" scenes. The climax of the story takes a while to get going, and might drag on a little too long. The music is done pretty well, as are the sound effects. Overall, This could be a great addition to the library of any J-Horror film fan, or anyone who just loves a good splatter-fest. If you can't rent it anywhere, however, don't bother purchasing it, or you might be let down.

For fans of Troma or the Cyberpunk genre mixed with a little blood shed then this film for you! There is a good amount of blood shed within the confines of this film, also the effects can be impressionable and awesome. The plot is ridiculous and refreshing, not being chained down to what we as audiences are expectant of from films these days. Also notable are the little aliens, who I found cute. All in all, it's a good film for fans of the genre. Also recommended are films such as Tetsuo:The Iron Man and Versus for that weird Japanese film approach, filled with wonderful obscurity and bloodshed. Of course, seeing this film you should already have knowledge of the two.