After a childhood friend's suicide, Hideaki and his former classmates reunite to pay their respects. Soon after, a DVD, marked X arrives revealing a man being tortured, triggering a flashback in Hideaki, reminding him of witnessing a schoolmate being subjected to humiliating batsu (punishment) games. One evening, Hideaki is kidnapped and when he awakens the next day, he discovers he is in a recreation of his old school-room, along with his fellow classmates. Trapped and held captive by mysterious hooded figures, each of them must now play a brutally violent, version of the punishment game, in order to survive.
Practical Effects
Disgustingly inventive torture setpieces that'll haunt your dreams.
Production
Creepy school recreation that's claustrophobic perfection.
Director
Yôhei Fukuda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Batsu games are real Japanese variety show staples — think Silent Library or Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai — making this torture-ification of comedy culture deeply uncomfortable.
Director Yôhei Fukuda made this between his two Chanbara Beauty zombie films, completing his unofficial 'things that shouldn't be sexy or fun but are' trilogy.
JP
