Fantasia: Deadball

Directed by Yudai Yamaguchi
Written by Yudai Yamaguchi, from Tokaji Keita
Cast Tak Sakaguchi, Mari Hoshino, Takamasa Suga, Jhonmyon Pe
Produced by Yoshinori Chiba

This film was unlike anything I had ever seen; it was the first film I saw at this festival. It tells the tale of Jubeh Yakyu, a feared young criminal who killed his father with a baseball to the forehead. The effects were incredible and I’m still thinking of his father’s eyeballs on the side of his head because of the force of the baseball that was thrown at him. Jubeh is sent to Pterodactyl Juvenile Reformatory, which is like a private school that rose from hell. The headmistress is a Nazi and she is very evil.

The prisoners are fisted as they are searched and are fed vomit for every meal. This reformatory is disgusting and probably smells extremely foul. How would one escape from this place? The only way to freedom is through baseball. But this is a different game with very different rules, murderous rules that are completely insane. A tournament is organized and Jubeh must pitch and re-live his horrid past. This game, however, focuses on murdering the other team and the battle is a little hard to believe but is fun and entertaining nonetheless.

Deadball is silly and goofy but remains fun. It is completely insane and ludicrous but no joke is ever extreme enough. If you are a fan of extreme gore and humorous murder then this a film for you.

2 out of 5 Stars

-Andrea Boulet