Wild Zero
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| Wild Zero | |
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 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Tetsuro Takeuchi |
| Produced by | Kazuhiko Tanaka |
| Written by | Satoshi Takagi |
| Starring | Guitar Wolf, Masashi Endô, Kwancharu Shitichai |
| Music by | Guitar Wolf |
| Cinematography | Motoki Kobayashi |
| Editing by | Tomoe Kubota |
| Distributed by | Synapse Films |
| Release date(s) | 2001 |
| Running time | 98 min |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Wild Zero is a 2000 Japanese "Jet rock 'n' roll" zombie horror comedy cult classic directed by Tetsuro Takeuchi, and starring the Japanese garage punk band Guitar Wolf. It borrows many elements from other popular B-movies such as Psychomania and Evil Dead II.
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[edit] Plot
Ace, a wannabe rock star, is on his way to a concert of the band Guitar Wolf when space aliens invade the Earth. As a result the dead rise to their feet in the countryside setting of Asahi, Japan, with an appetite for flesh. Enlisting the help of his rock 'n roll blood brother Guitar Wolf, Ace and the members of the band get entangled in many misadventures with crazy rock managers in very tight shorts, transsexuals, naked women shooting guns in the shower, and bloodthirsty zombies ready to tear them apart. Leather jackets, loud over-modulated music, laser guitar picks, motorcycles, guns, muscle cars, and fire abound. Guitar Wolf, a Japanese trio signed to Matador Records in the US—and self-proclaimed coolest rock band in the world—star as the well-coiffed heroes. It is also a love story, between Ace and Tobio, a trans woman.
The music, in a garage punk vein, plays an important role in the film. It features music from Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound and The Oblivians. His 1997 song "Twice as Deep" by Greg Oblivian & the Tip Tops is featured.
This film is similar to another movie by a Spanish punk group, La matanza caníbal de los garrulos lisérgicos produced by Siniestro Total (a punk band from Vigo, Spain)
[edit] Characters
[edit] Guitar Wolf
Energetic lead singer and guitarist of the band Guitar Wolf. Rides a specially designed motorcycle (with a liquor bottle holder up front) and is the aggressive action hero of the group. Also acts as Ace's moral guide, much like Elvis guides Clarence in True Romance. Never without his guitar which turns out to house a samurai sword hidden in the instrument's neck. In another memorable scene, he throws guitar picks as if they were shuriken.
[edit] Bass Wolf
Band member, bassist, and drug enthusiast. Usually rides in car with Drum Wolf. Although more quiet than Drum Wolf, he is more violent, often punching characters who annoy him.
[edit] Drum Wolf
Drummer of the band. Usually rides in car with Bass Wolf. He is usually seen with a cigarette, though in one scene he appears only to be chewing on it. He is the most loud and obnoxious member of the group, sometimes yelling at other characters.
[edit] Ace
Self-proclaimed "biggest Guitar Wolf fan in the world" with dreams of hitting it big as a musician himself (though he admits he does not know how to play guitar and is never seen with an instrument in the entire film). Slightly goofy, but has heart in the right place, and is thoroughly filled with love of Rock 'N' Roll.
[edit] Tobio
Damsel in distress with a hunger for love. The issue of whether Tobio is transgender or maybe intersex is never made clear.
[edit] Captain
Guitar wolf's nemesis (and, as it is suggested, childhood friend), the manager of the club where Guitar Wolf was performing at the beginning of the film. His preference for money, drugs, and sex over the true spirit of rock n roll sparks the violent argument into which Ace storms at the film's beginning. Pursues Guitar Wolf throughout the film in an effort to exact his revenge for the loss of two fingers. He can be recognized by his wigs, pill popping, and hot pants. Later on Captain gains the power to shoot lasers out of his eyes.
