Kyonyû doragon (2010) by Takao Nakano

Director: Takao Nakano
Year: 2010
Country: Japan
Alternate Titles: The Big T*ts Dragon; The Big T*ts Zombie; The Big T*ts Dragon: Hot Spring Zombies vs Strippers 5; Zombie Stripper Apocalypse
Genre: Zombie, Exploitation

Plot:
Tired of their line of work, a group of dancers passing the time with a strange occult book in their club end up finding themselves in the middle of a zombie outbreak through a curse inscribed within and must battle the unleashed creatures in order to get away alive.

Review:

This one ended up being one of the more enjoyable zombie cheesefests. Most of the film's charm lies in the fact that this one is so unashamedly intent on opting for the cheesy side of the sleaze-riddled storyline it wants to exploit. The entire film is quite apparent in its overall look and feel, going for the vibrant chaotic look that's readily apparent from the whole environment of the stripclub where they work to the way they behave waiting for their shifts to start yet the main fun of this one is the ease with which it goes for exploitation in the storyline. Never resisting a chance to showcase their physical attributes by shoving the camera into any of their figures, forcing them into skimpy costumes for their risqué dance routines to be ogled over or to have them constantly engage in topless wrestling matches filled with comical sound effects upon the appearance of nudity really gives this a quite cheesy and sleazy feel.

This is suitably carried over into the frantic second half where they accidentally unleash the zombies. These scenes are quite varied and range from the rather chilling ritual space down in the secret room where the different relics and body parts are found to the chaotic sequence involving their interrupted performance where they realize the patrons are resurrected zombies. This is a great ability on Nakano to be able to shift the tone so easily, as the film fits in both styles rather well. The scenes are creepy and chilling when they need to be yet the action confrontations are fast-paced and energetic. Not only are they fun, stylish and engaging, but it manages to provide plenty of over-the-top visuals and scenarios as a result.

For the most part, the actresses here are likable and endearing. As lead Lena Jodo, Sora Aoi offers a fantastic role, clearly disillusioned from years of working the same dead-end performances at the club but unable to rouse herself from the rut of her life which has turned her into a hardened, cynical leader. Capable of seeing what lies ahead in their lives but still with a sense of empathy and protective Mother attitude towards the girls, she's quick to action and has no problem baring herself regardless of the crazy situation. Risa Kasumi as Ginko is a fine wildcard, obviously used to seedy activity but causing it more often than not which makes her less sympathetic but still a toughened warrior. Mari Sakurai as the Gothic-Lolita Maria also causes a striking appearance, from the bright get-up and generally over-the-top psycho/cute girl behavior that leads to a fine turn. The other two girls, Tomayao as the aging Nene and Io Aikawa as Darma don't spark much interest but as a group, their disparate personalities are enough to hold this one up.

There's not a whole lot here that doesn't work. The main element at play here is the woefully underwhelming visual effects, which start from the 3D work that is so low and barely there, it's not worth it. Only a few objects get thrown into the camera for the process to work, and the CGI splatter is really obvious. Atsushi Tomera creates a few solid molds for practical effects-work, but they're not on-screen often enough compared to the focus on CGI that pushes it aside. As well, the film's focus on exploitation makes this exceptionally limited in its appeal. The excess skin and gross-out gore won't offer much enjoyment for some, and even exploitation fans might be turned off by the low-budget look here. Otherwise, there's not a whole lot wrong here.

Overview: *****/5
In no way shape or form a competent film, this one manages to offer a fantastic amount of enjoyable sleaze that packs in plenty of likable elements to this one. Dive right in on this one if you're someone that finds those kinds of films enjoyable or appreciate the work of the creative side, while those that don't find those kinds of films engaging should heed caution or avoid altogether.

This review was originally published on Asian Movie Pulse and is gratefully reprinted with their cooperation.