Death Trance (2005)
Death Trance
Death Trance DVD Movie Review
Death Trance from director Yuji Shimomura is a fast-paced swordplay action movie set in an unknown time and place. The story is about an unknown man, played by Tak Sakaguchi, who steals a coffin from an ancient temple. It is rumored that when someone opens this coffin, all of their wishes will come true. The guardians of this coffin have reason to believe that the goddess of destruction is housed within it and opening the coffin will bring about the end of the world. There is also a mysterious young girl, played by Honoka Asada, who follows the coffin wherever it goes. The archbishop of this temple sends out an apprentice monk, played by Kentaro Segal, to retrieve the coffin. In the event that the monk is unable to get the coffin back, he is to find someone worthy of wielding the only sword that can destroy the goddess of destruction.
The look of this film is rather unique and full of sharp contrasts. The village is barren and post-apocalyptic, but most of the action takes place in a lush, vibrant forest. The technology is analog, there is a great deal of swordplay, but there are also guns and motorcycles present. The costume design by Kana Takeuchi makes the characters look like vagabonds in a ravaged wasteland. Also, the blue and white filters used by cinematographer, Shinichi Fujita give the visuals a cold and desolate feel.
Shimomura, being the action director of Versus and close personal friend of Tak Sakaguchi, choreographed the entire movie to make Sakaguchi look like the most menacing, dangerous, action hero ever to grace the silver screen. The fight scenes are fantastically stylized and gratuitous. Sakaguchi's character is only in it for the fight and frowns upon needless killing. With the exception of the final fight scene, there is very little bloodshed. He uses his superior fighting abilities to humiliate his enemies rather than rip them to shreds. The final battle scene takes place in midair and the majority of the effects are computer generated. These qualities give this scene the feel of an otherworldly, epic battle. Despite the lack of blood or realism, the fights are a joy to watch.
The coffin that this story centers on, as well as the girl that is strangely bound to it, are just as much stars of the movie as Segal and Sakaguchi. No matter how many times the coffin and girl change hands throughout the movie, there is a definite force driving the coffin to its final destination. The girl that is bound to the coffin is largely silent and her presence is intriguing and adds character and personality to this aspect of the narrative.
The premise of a man dragging behind him a coffin full of chaos is a direct nod to the spaghetti western, Django, from director Sergio Corbucci. The spaghetti western qualities do not end there. None of the characters have names. The main character is referred to only as "Coffin Man." This thematic element was first implemented by Sergio Leone with his "Man with No Name" trilogy based on the samurai movies of Akira Kurosawa. The village on the outskirts of the forest also has many western movie qualities. When the "Coffin Man" first arrives there, he goes to the bar and orders drinks for himself and the girl. Shortly thereafter, a fight ensues. The production design is the only thing that separates this scene from the obligatory "saloon brawl" scenes of most westerns.
For what it is, Death Trance is a highly entertaining movie. The budget is noticeably low and the premise is far from innovative. That in no way detracts from the overall entertainment value. Yuji Shimomura and Tak Sakaguchi are a great team and are sure to provide an uproariously good time.
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