Stacy (2001) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Naoyuki Tomomatsu
Starring: Norman England, Tomoka Hayashi, YukijirÃ’ Hotaru
Rated: UR/Region: 1/1:78/Number of disc: 1
Available from Synapse Films
In the early 21st century, teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 17 begin dying all over the world. Shortly before they die, the girls succumb to NDH (Near Death Happiness), a “pre-death” state of absolute bliss and joy. Once dead, girls come back as a flesh-eating zombie nicknamed “Stacy”. The world is in chaos. Countries suffer from famine, war, and zero-population growth because of this teenage death epidemic. To keep the zombies from returning and eating innocent people, families are urged to kill their daughters before they are allowed to die by this mysterious disease (chopping them up and leaving them in garbage bags for govern-ment-sanctioned pick-up). In a Japanese military base, some undead schoolgirls are held and tested by a scientist who tries to unlock the secrets behind the girls return from the dead. Suddenly, the world turns upside down yet again as a soldier, in a fit of depression, lets the girls free to storm the base and devour anyone in their path.
Stacy is an extremely bloody film. In all honesty if we were going by gore alone it would be a five star movie for certain. The film looks and reminds me of some of the later films that came along out of the infamous guinea pig films and with the amount of gore here I suppose anyone could make the connection. However, as bloody as this movie is there does seem to be something slightly off plot wise that I never could seem to be put my finger on.
The movie does pack tons of references to American horror classics such as Day of the Dead and Evil Dead 2. We even get some arm-chainsaw action. I think that maybe parts of the story just seemed to lose me from time to time ever so slightly. That still doesn’t kill the overall fun of this movie and if you like crazy Asain cinema, then you will love this because it sure is crazy and even insane in spots. It has gore, it has classic horror references, it just seems to lose the viewer from time to time. Other than that, it is a nice film overall.
– Japanese Language Version
– Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
– Chapter Selections
– Liner Notes
