Okay...the title alone will decide if you see this film. Either you say, "Oh, yes!" Or you say, "Garbage!" A Japanese one with bladed weapons, severed limbs that spurt out endless amounts of blood, and a nubile lass with some grudge. Anime? Ryona? Cosplay? Yep, all those boxes are checked. In what has to be the magnum opus of Rina Akiyama, in the title role, we have a weird themed Asian horror film. One that may put forth Christian themes of salvation, atonement, and judgment (throw in forgiveness, too). Judgment? Did someone say judgment? Yep, and it will be bloody! Today we look at 2010's "Psycho Goth Lolita," directed by Go Ohara.
During Yuki's (Akiyama) birthday party with her mom (Fumia Nukajima) and dad (Yurei Yanagi), a hooded gang storms in and crucifies the mom. They leave both Yuki and her dad for dead. Both recover but now the dad, Jiro is wheelchair bound. Jiro is a Christian minister and now Yuki is Psycho Goth Lolita. Adorned in a black leather dress, and black leather boots, she now has a deadly umbrella made by Jiro. The umbrella is a killing device. The duo are committed to tracking down the mom's murderers and imposing judgment on them. One by one, Yuki finds them. She is a killing machine meting out God's vengeance on the fiends. The judgments all include elongated fight scenes and incredibly gory kills complete with severed limbs and spurting blood.
Our favorite is the elongated catfight between Yuki and Elle (Misaki Momose) . The two Asian dolls could have fought all day, none of us would have complained. All this leads to a confrontation with Masato (Ruito Aoyagi). Who is Masato and why did him and his gang crucify Yuki's sweet mother? Uh oh! A twist! One that most of you will see coming. Now Yuki will be forced to battle her inner demons and keep serving God. Uh oh, again. Masato was expecting the lovely warrior. What Yuki will find will be demonic, shocking, and may spell the end of her and her quest for righteousness.
Can the Japanese population find salvation through this film? What are Christian themes doing in this Japanese horror film with a young Ryona-type heroine and spurting blood? Would a leather clad Asian babe serve the seeker sensitive movement nicely? Get whatever you wish out of this film. The imagery isn't all orthodox but certainly, our vengeful nymph with the mean umbrella is definitely on a holy crusade. See "Psycho Goth Lolita" and don't worry about what your book club buddies think of you.
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