Plot: What’s it about?
Ace (Masashi Endo) has aspirations of rock stardom, to be a cool and popular musician like his idols, Guitar Wolf. After all, Guitar Wolf is the coolest rock band in the world, so it is no surprise that Ace wishes to be like the three rockers. But there is a problem, as Ace just isn’t that cool and in fact, he can’t even play much on his own guitar. He still loves Guitar Wolf though, so he makes plans to be at their latest concert. Ace dons his best leather jacket, puts an extra slap of grease in his hair, and drives his motorcycle to the site of the show. The show is put on by a strange man known as The Captain, who informs Guitar Wolf that a repeat performance is out of the question. He says that rock and roll is dead, which prompts the band’s leader Guitar Wolf to pull out a handgun and start a standoff with the club’s owner. When Ace hears Captain’s claims, he bursts in and tells him off, only to be knocked out soon after. This leads to a violent shootout, one which leaves Captain without some fingers and a decapitated bodyguard, while the band leaves untouched and impressed by Ace’s brave actions. Guitar Wolf even becomes his blood brother, then gives him a magic whistle to blow if he ever needs the band’s assistance. This is just the first ten minutes or so of the movie, so you know this is one wild adventure!
Now this is just awesome. This is one of those movies that just defies description, even to someone like me, who has seen thousands of insane movies. Wild Zero takes a survival horror premise, then throws in aliens, zombies, wild action scenes, intense chases, hot chicks, and of course, a massive dose of rock music. In other words, Wild Zero is a movie destined to be a cult classic and a staple of horror, cult, and offbeat cinema buffs. I’ve had an import disc of Wild Zero for a while now, one which has been spun at countless parties and without fail, it has left the viewers in a manic state. Now that Synapse Films has given the film a domestic release, it is sure to find a wider audience and dazzle millions of new fans. The driving force behind the madness is Guitar Wolf, a Japanese rock band that oozes cool, whether they’re slinging magical guitar picks, cruising on their motorcycles, or just combing their retro hairstyles. A lot of bands have claimed to be the coolest rock in the world, but hands down, Guitar Wolf holds the crown. The band also supplies some rockin’ music in the flick and of course, tangles with legions of the undead. Wild Zero has a campish texture that really shines, as if this is some elite level B movie, complete with low rent special effects and over the top performances. But without question, Wild Zero is an instant genre classic and as such, it is given a most high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
Wild Zero is presented in 1.66:1 widescreen, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This is a disappointment, as I had hoped for an anamorphic widescreen presentation, but the movie still looks quite good. This was a low budget production, so the visuals were somewhat limited from the start, but no real concerns surface. I found this to be a more vivid and crisp transfer than the import disc, which is great news. The colors are bold and bright, especially when the heads started to explode, while black levels are refined and consistent. This ensures the visuals aren’t faded or too light, as the case was with the import edition. So while not anamorphic, this is still a step above previous releases.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Japanese soundtrack is preserved here, with a track that rocks and rolls, just as it should. All of the engines, explosions, and rock music come across well, though production limitations and lack of a full 5.1 option curtail the audio at times. This means a reduced level of overall power, but rest assured, the elements still have some kick. But given the film’s manic, over the top presence, perhaps new 5.1 mixes, even a DTS track could have really opened things up and added a new dimension to the experience. The audio is still well handled and effective however, so don’t let my daydreams take you out of your Wild Zero joyride. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, in case you’re not fluent in Japanese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A special drinking game option is found here, which imposes a beer mug on the screen whenever certain things happen. You can drink when a head explodes or when someone combs their hair, you get the idea, right? This disc includes a reel of behind the scenes footage, a Guitar Wolf talent file, some still photos, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
