Meatball Machine (2005)
Written By: DMG
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Yūdai Yamaguchi, Jun’ichi Yamamoto
Producer: Yukihiko Yamaguchi
Screenwriter: Junya Kato
Date Released October 14, 2005
Cast:
Issei Takahashi as Yōji
Aoba Kawai as Sachiko
Kenichi Kawasaki as Tanaka
Shōichirō Masumoto as Doi
Tōru Tezuka as Tsujimoto
Ayano Yamamoto as Michino
Rating = 2/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Parasites are going around infecting people and turning them into necro-borgs forcing them to battle to the death. When Yoji attends an adult theatre, he is followed by a cross dresser who subsequently beats him up as he is leaving. The encounter leaves him injured in a pile of trash. But when a strange insect-like item falls from above, he takes it home with him and tries to dissect it. Meanwhile, when Yoji crush, Sachiko, is getting molested by another man, he attempts to stop it in which he is again brutally beaten. As a result, Sachiko walks him home. While there, the insect like specimen comes alive and transforms the girl into a necroborg. Yoji must attempt to stop it and save her before it’s too late.
Gore Factor
This film incorporates brutal gore and blood as well as grotesque imagery. As the parasite is infecting the people, the parasite inserts drills in their eyes creating metal eyes. In one particular scene, when Sachiko is becoming a necroborg, the parasite ties her down and rapes her. There is also multiple falick symbols that are equally disturbing and grotesque.
The Grave Review
The same director who directed Tokyo Gore Police also did this film. Everything in this film seems to have a sexual connotation. The plot is very simple focusing mainly on the parasites as they attach to people creating mindless necroborgs. What the film lacks in substance, it makes up for in special effects.
From when the parasite enters the people to when the final transformation occurs, there is a special effect for everything. The film is above gory and consistently shows its special effects abilities. However, beyond this, there is not much else the film offers.
It should also be noted that there does not seem to be any significance to the name, “Meatball Machines”. In fact, the title has nothing to do with the actual premise so it was unusual why the creators would choose this title.
As stated above, everything has some kind of sexual connotation. The imagery may be alluding to sexual frustration or perhaps the transformation is symbolic for feeling like you cannot control your own life. Regardless, one can interpret this film in multiple ways.
Like all cyborg films, this is a film which you will either love or hate. However, the film deserves credit for its special effects. If you like films such as Tetsuo: the iron man, you will like this film. But if not, you can pass on it.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Meatball Machine (2005) two Graves out of five graves.
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