Helldriver

Helldriver (2010)

This is another of those splatter flicks from Japan. They are filled with over the top gore and absurd situations. If you haven’t seen one of these yet think of it as a live action anime. That is the best way that I can describe these kinds of flicks and Helldriver in particular.

The story here follows a young lady named Kika. She was raised by her mother and uncle, who also happen to be homicidal cannibals. While trying to get away from them her mother is hit by an asteroid or maybe an alien… Not really sure about this part. She doesn’t die and rips Kika’s heart out to replace the hole in her chest. Some zombies happen and eventually Kika (who also didn’t die) is sent in with others to kill the zombies. Zombies who are lead by Kika’s mother who is now I think possessed by an alien. Again not quite sure.

This is a crazy movie that follows no rules. Hell the opening credits don't show up until we are 45 minutes into the flick! The story is hard to follow at times and is totally absurd. I mean there is a brother and sister towards the end that are I think augmented to kill zombies. I’m sure that this is supposed to mean something to the audience, but I had no clue what was going on. Then again this was based on a Manga, or at least I think that it was. Anyway watching a movie like Helldriver means you have to sort of suspend your expectations of story and character. This is all about the visuals and how insane they can be.

So does the movie work on that level? Yeah it sure as hell does. I mean there is blood and limbs flying everywhere. We have zombies armed with chainsaws hacking away as well as Kika and her chainsaw sword. We get one set piece after the other so that the audience never gets bored. Hell have you ever seen a pickup in a sword fight? You will with this one. This movie is nuts. Again the story makes little sense. I have no idea what the characters are up to. But none of it matters in the end. You watch a movie like Helldriver for the experience and not as you would traditionally.

Lets talk about the gore. 1st thing that I want to mention is that if you don’t dig CGI then you will hate this one. Most of the effects work is done with CGI. They are over the top and cartoonish, which makes the inferior look kind of okay. The pickup truck fighting the zombie looks silly, but then it is a silly idea. Same goes for the giant pile of zombies that grab the rockets for a ride to Tokyo. Again goofy idea so the terrible CGI is okay. In the end I’d say the effects aren’t good at all but they don't hurt the experience of watching the movie.

If you are in the mood to watch something totally nutty then Helldriver is going to be a flick for you. I had fun with it but don’t know if I ever need to see it again. I have a feeling that a movie like this only needs to be seen once. But that one time is a trip.

2 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer