The initial minutes of the film make it seem like an intense horror/slasher film. The way the story progresses with very gruesome and brutal imagery, one assumes that this is going to be a treat for people who enjoy strictly horror films. However, that isn't the case at all. When the main characters (which comprise generic and archetypal characters) discover that they are in a time loop, things change drastically. The film shifts tone suddenly and abruptly. It transitions to a more lighthearted puzzle-solving film with alternating intense chase sequences. This is good and bad. It's good because it makes way for the film to be more unique and gives the characters better depth. Bad because it seemed like it would have been a really good serious horror film. The film doesn't take itself too seriously after a point and has numerous montages of them having fun with each other (because they technically have infinite lives until they put the body together) and also getting killed very creatively.
The film becomes more about the characters, with all the characters getting fleshed out and friendship taking center stage as the main theme of the film. I don't want to hold it against the film because it doesn't detract from the experience, but if it had gone full horror, it could have turned out pretty well as well. There are a few twists and turns, though, as the film progresses.
Talking about the monster, "The Red Person," has a mix of practical and CGI effects for its body. The practical effects look better than the CGI in this film, which makes one wonder why they're used so little these days. The performances in the film are substantial, with all the actors doing their parts. There are a lot of tropes in the film that are very prevalent in Japanese media, but nothing that really impedes the quality of the film.
The film begins strongly, dips a little in the middle, but quickly picks up again towards the third act. It is a short, fun, and entertaining film with nothing that will blow you away. It is simply satisfactory and enjoyable.
The film becomes more about the characters, with all the characters getting fleshed out and friendship taking center stage as the main theme of the film. I don't want to hold it against the film because it doesn't detract from the experience, but if it had gone full horror, it could have turned out pretty well as well. There are a few twists and turns, though, as the film progresses.
Talking about the monster, "The Red Person," has a mix of practical and CGI effects for its body. The practical effects look better than the CGI in this film, which makes one wonder why they're used so little these days. The performances in the film are substantial, with all the actors doing their parts. There are a lot of tropes in the film that are very prevalent in Japanese media, but nothing that really impedes the quality of the film.
The film begins strongly, dips a little in the middle, but quickly picks up again towards the third act. It is a short, fun, and entertaining film with nothing that will blow you away. It is simply satisfactory and enjoyable.