The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Battle Royale (2000)

Have you ever seen a film where you immediately realize that it had to be an influence on another? The discourse around the origins of Suzanne Collins influences for The Hunger Games is quite interesting. The Hunger Games has become a massive phenomenon both on the page and on the big screen. But the idea of a group of teens killing each other for a competition is not a new idea in the world of film. Director Kinji Fukasaku delivered a thrilling and wild thrill ride back in 2000 called Battle Royale. Whether you believe that Collins never heard of this or not, Battle Royale is still one of the wildest films in the 21^st century.

What does Kenta Fukasaku’s screenplay (based on the novel of Koushun Takami) deliver from a story and thematic standpoint? In a dystopian future, a group of students all “fall asleep” on a bus trip and awaken to a hellscape where they are in a government sponsored killing competition. Fukasaku wastes no time in dumping quick and efficient world-building as the audience knows within a few minutes that this world is twisted and dangerous. There are choices made narratively that get the audience up to speed on just how dangerous and destructive this competition will be. The screenplay has some solid character as well by delivering spurts of flashbacks and story time. Most of this film serves up these teens like kindling on a bonfire but there is enough empathy to deliver a connection for the audience. The film delivers its ideas about authoritarianism and the destruction of our youth with broad strokes and blunt force trauma. Overall, this is one wild story of insane destruction.

What does Kinji Fukasaku bring to the table from behind the camera? This is one truly brutal experience. The energy in this film is unrelenting and propulsive in such a way that it makes the experience both hard to watch and thrilling at the same time. This is raw and visceral as Fukasaku does not shy away from the horrific brutality and violence that dispatches these teens. You might be turned off by just how flippantly these young people are murdered by the government and each other, but it does force the audience to confront such violence. Battle Royale has a pulpy vibe that is not refined or crisp in its technical execution, but the reckless abandoned approach gives it a bold feeling. The dark humor is so sharp and biting that you might not always realize that it is time to laugh. The pacing might waver a bit with the repetitive nature of the narrative but both Fukasaku’s do plenty to keep the intensity coming along.

And the cast? This crew of young performers certainly came to play. The casting in this film was incredibly on point even from just a looks perspective. Every wimpy and nervous character looks like the part. Do you need some madness and fiery-eyed killers? Well…you got them! There are plenty of innocent and sweet looking faces that are brutally eliminated as well. When you have such a large ensemble of characters, you need each actor to convey some key traits effectively and efficiently to stand out. This cast does that perfectly. Each of these young performers understand their job and perform accordingly.

Does Battle Royale deserve the cult classic fervor that it has? It certainly does…and then some. This is a brash and explosive bit of artist expression that captures the spirit of a generation of filmmakers and audiences begging for something fresh and bold. Those are only two of the many adjectives that you can throw at Battle Royale. The action is brutal, visceral, and uncompromising. The pitch-black humor gives it added dimensions. The twisted and dement future hellscape this portrays is too uncomfortably close to a present we just might have. A wild and compelling cinematic experience for sure.

Special thanks to Jess Conto & Luke Burian for nominating Battle Royale (2000)!