PopHorror Let's Get Scared
At little over a decade before we were widely exposed to the “beauty is pain” concept by recent offerings like The Substance and The Beauty, Japanese filmmaker Mika Ninagawa (Sakuran) adapted a manga and created a beautiful film called Helter Skelter (no relation to Charles Manson). 88 Films, as part of their 88 Asia Collection, gave it the collector edition treatment with a limited to 4000 pieces Blu-ray release.
Synopsis
Top model and fashion idol Lilico is used to being the center of attention. When she begins to suffer side effects of the illegal cosmetic surgery sessions, she finds that fame comes with a cost.
Have a look at the trailer!
Lilico (Erika Sawajiri; Shinobi: Heart Under Blade) is currently Japan’s “it girl”. Adored by legions of fans, lusted after by millions of men, she is the seemingly perfect example of feminine beauty and grace, and has taken the modeling world by storm. It isn’t all magazine covers and lucrative commercial deals though, Lilico is miserable, and also a miserable person. Obsessed with staying on top, and driven relentlessly by her manager (Kaori Momoi; Memoirs of a Geisha), Lilico finds pleasure in tormenting her dedicated assistant Michiko Hada (Shinobu Terajima; Tokyo Tower) and her boyfriend Shin (Go Ayano; Rage), while trying to stay ahead of her younger, fresh faced rival Kozue (Kiko Mizuhara; Attack On Titan).
Frequent trips to a shady cosmetic surgery clinic, run by an unscrupulous doctor (Mieko Harada; Ran) currently under investigation for the suspicious deaths of clients and the possible use of human baby parts, seems to be all that is keeping age and irrelevance at bay for the attention addicted star.
Upon first viewing Helter Skelter, you can’t help but be struck by what an aesthetically beautiful film it is. Bright, bold color schemes, loud garish lighting, and perfect casting with Sawajiri, who is just ridiculously attractive. Her performance as the not-quite-an-antihero, trying desperately to cling to her beauty while attempting everything to feel anything, is a real tour de force.
Terajima also absolutely shines as the hapless target of Lilico’s rage and subjugation games. Beautifully shot and edited, director Ninagawa expertly holds your attention with the lush visuals, despite the film dragging at several points over its 127 minute run time.
And the story, by American standards anyways, was way ahead of it’s time, as you can definitely see a distinct influence, both in tone and look, on the aforementioned The Substance and The Beauty (with no appearances by Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, or any of their exes!). While it does shy away from the darker aspects of the storyline (the body horror element could have been explored deeper) no amount of missed opportunities could keep Helter Skelter from being a major achievement in cinema.
The 88 Films box is just as amazing as the film proper. Great transfer, coherent subtitles, and a slamming soundtrack all contribute to an almost immersive viewing experience. The cover art is just as eye catching as the film itself, using much of the same color palettes, with a small, gold, c-card listing the features and the number of the release. Inside you’ll find a well done 20 page booklet with an in-depth study of the film, as well as some striking stills. Extras include commentary tracks, interviews with Ninagawa and Sawajiri, opening day footage, a BTS segment, a film fest Q & A with Ninagawa, rehearsal footage, and, of course, the requisite trailer.
Superbly crafted and expertly cast, Helter Skelter is easily one of the best films I’ve seen in quite a while. Visually stunning, and thought provoking, with some truly heart wrenching sequences, it is definitely a milestone in Japanese cinema, and cinema in general. Highly recommended!
88 Films Limited Edition Blu-ray of Helter Skelter is available now from fine retailers.
