Widely recognized director Takashi Miike never ceases to surprise his audience - now with a hush-hush drop on Netflix. The praised filmmaker behind "Audition," "13 Assassins," and "Ichi the Killer" never takes a break, amassing over 100 directorial credits, and growing. Miike is known for transforming seemingly ordinary projects into uniquely compelling ones, as demonstrated in "Lumberjack the Monster" - the script may not be perfect, but the trademark Miike touches make it worth the watch.
The film starts with a chilling scene, featuring a deranged woman, multiple dead children, and a blood spurt that is nothing short of spectacular. The unique, exaggerated elements, combined with a dash of absurdity, bring a singular charm to Miike's films that sets him apart. While the script of "Lumberjack" tends to hold Miike back from his trademark intense tendencies, the director manages to weave his magic, leaving one yearning for an even more daring version of the film.
"Lumberjack" is centered around a serial killer, Akira Ninomiya (played compellingly by Kazuya Kamenashi), who gets attacked by a character resembling a figure from a children's book. As the plot unwinds with a neurochip, an orphanage, and a twisted past, the film reveals a fascinating duel between a guilt-ridden serial killer and a nearly supernatural avenger.
The film's strength lies in this peculiar interaction, with the rest of the cast being somewhat underdeveloped. Despite its dips into subpar storytelling when unveiling the motives of the lead characters, "Lumberjack the Monster" resurrects through Miike’s skilful direction, reflected not only in the grand sequences but in the entire flow of the film.
While it may not be classified as an outstanding work, "Lumberjack the Monster" caters to Miike's audience and potentially encourages new fans to delve into his rich filmography, thus opening a door to a world of cinematic chaos and brilliance on Netflix.
