Stacy (2001)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Naoyuki Tomomatsu

Writers:

Chisato Oogawara (screenplay)
Kenji Otsuki (novel)

Release Date:

18 August 2001 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Plot Keywords:

Dismemberment | Drunkenness | Gun Mutilation | Extreme Gore | Zombie

Cast

Norman England	...	Jeff
Tomoka Hayashi	...	Nozomi
Yukijirô Hotaru
Natsuki Kato	...	Eiko
Shirô Misawa
Masayoshi Nogami	...	Father
Toshinori Omi	...	Shibukawa
Kenji Otsuki
Hinako Saeki
Yoji Tanaka	...	Rokuyama
Donpei Tsuchihira
Yasutaka Tsutsui	...	Dr. Inugami Sukekiyo
Shungiku Uchida

Also Known As:

Stacy: Attack of the Schoolgirl Zombies (USA)

Runtime:

Germany:79 min | USA:80 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Tamagawa River, Tokyo, Japan

Trivia:

The task force which goes out to hunt the zombie schoolgirls is called the "Romero Repeat Kill Troops", a reference to George A. Romero.

Movie Connections:

References Evil Dead II (1987)

Film students beware - This film is entertaining!

Seems most of the people that have seen this film are film students and they are notorious for missing the point of such tounge in cheek movies as this one. The number one rule of film critique is - if a film is entertaining then it can't be all bad. This low budget tounge in cheek horror film is certainly entertaining, and when you take into account that the makers didn't take it seriously, they weren't expecting to scare anyone nor were they expecting this to play in art houses (or I'm sure, for film students) then you soon realise you are actually laughing with the film and not at it after all.

This isn't a parody either, but there are many tributes towards other classic zombie films. Most notably the Zombie killers are called "Romero's" after George Romero, maker of the Living Dead trilogy. Dawn of the Living Dead is clearly a main influence and the way the zombies act along with the use of "elevator music" certainly parodies that film (although the music here isn't done as expertly as in Dawn, but I'd say anyone that challanges the use of that type of music has really missed the point and should probably go and try watching Dawn of the Dead again and take notes of how the music actually works for the film). There is also a tribute to the Evil Dead trilogy in the form of the chainsaw being called "Blues Campbell" (not far off Bruce Campbell, star of the Evil Deads). These links immediately show the direction the film is taking.

The style however is much closer to such Peter Jackson classics as "Brain Dead" and "Bad Taste" and if you'd vote a 1-3 for those films, then all I can say is I'm glad you weren't given the task of choosing a director for Lord of the Rings. Yes they are silly, and yes the sfx are cheap, but they are vastly entertaining. Again however this is inferior, but I reckon if you enjoyed all the other films I have listed in this review you will also enjoy this film.

The makers take an interesting angle on the Zombie film, which many would suggest doesn't work (and I can't say I was keen on it). However I appreciate it's originality. In Stacy, an explanation is sought as to why the zombies exist, what it is that drives them, and in the end how can the world move forward when all the young girls are turning into zombies. The end of the film is as tounge in cheek as the rest, and the attempt at giving it all a morale while interesting, will be wasted on most viewers that are only having a good laugh at an amusing film.

As a horror film this is a refreshing change from the "scary movie" genre of films that has produced far too many films that fail to either inspire or entertain. This film is unlikely to inspire, and it certainly wont win an oscar, but it *is* entertaining and so if you enjoy tounge in cheek horror, give it a watch!

If your a film student with a narrow view on what makes a good movie, I'd skip this film and maybe get a job at pizza hut.