This movie got me interested into looking up the manga and its astoundingly faithful to the source. This is kind of a double edged sword. Only three volumes long, its a hectic and confusing story with very underdeveloped characters. But in spite of that, it is still rather compelling. I never felt bored and ultimately enjoyed the experience.
I loved the art style. Its very scratchy and rough, it looks like something that was supposed to be a rough draft and was meant to be redrawn. At first it was off putting seeing such rough outlines but once I got used to it I started to notice something else. All these characters are really well designed. All the characters are so interesting to look at I often just wanted to pause the movie. Even simpler designs like Wolfie's and less integral characters like Mummyla have a strange allure to them. But no character stands out more than Hellvis himself. The principal of the school is something else all together.
Its not just the characters though, the scenery itself is so stylized that you forget how minimal all the features are. For instance, the classroom is just a bunch of desks in a room, sometimes a void, but it just better serves the characters. It brings them more into focus, making them pop even more as your eye wanders about. But through what should be a clutter of visual stimulation, it subtly draws your attention to Steela by simply giving her something unique. Her desk is the only one that has stitches on it and before anyone says anything, tells you this character in particular is important. When there is scenery, the sketchy style makes hell look so alien to the realm of the living that it expresses what's happening well. Seeing Amagane running to get through the school gates, the dark skies and medieval stone architecture is so jarring that you know that she isn't in Japan anymore.
The movie starts one way but makes a very sharp turn before you know it. School stories aren't uncommon as a character starts to ingratiate themselves with their classmates, resolving their problems and becoming friends, and at first glance that seemed like where the plot was going. Then it starts talking about Cain and Abel and Adam and Eve and all that stuff involving her classmates is thrown out the window for a strange interpretation of a biblical feud. It is disappointing that you don't get to learn more about the classmates, but this turn I can't say is bad per say. Its a roller coaster of stimulation, with a lot of jarring twists and turns that are hard to follow, but this kind of works at least to some degree. It is impossible to guess what is going to happen next and if you are just looking for a ride and don't focus too hard on details, its a fun romp.
Its a very controversial movie. Some people aren't going to like it because of its style and unconventional narrative. But at the same time, I feel some are going to adore it for those same points. Its not really a movie that translates into a review because its so subjective. Its really something you have to watch for yourself to come to any conclusion over.
