Review: MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD

High school girl Rin (Yumi Sugimoto) joins a team of killer mutants in MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD, the second film from Nikkatsu`s Sushi Typhoon genre film label. Photo courtesy of Sushi Typhoon. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon and Toei Video

Author: Elliot Gay Official Site: sentoshojo.jp (Japan), Sushi Typhoon (US) Special Thanks to Marc Walkow and Norman England

MUTANT GIRL SQUAD (Sento Shojo: Chi no Tekkamen Densetsu, 2010) might be one of the strangest films I have ever seen. One could attempt to describe it as a Japanese X-MEN though I have the feeling that might be missing the point entirely. It’s a film that cannot be put into any one category if only because its tone jumps around so frequently it is impossible to place. Don’t get me wrong, there is an entertaining story in here. Just understand that in my opinion it isn’t nearly as accessible as its predecessor ALIEN VS NINJA. Trying to summarize MUTANT GIRL SQUAD is akin to being asked how to take a hamster for a walk; you think you can do it but you’re not entirely sure if you’re going to get it right the first time. The story follows a young high school girl named Rin in her quest to find peace in her life after a series of ridiculous events occur that force her to join a top secret and elite squad of mutants with outlandish weapons and abilities. Of course, when I say ridiculous events, I mean things along the lines of breast guns and nose pistols. One sequence early on is essentially ten minutes of our heroine violently killing nearly every person she confronts as she is attacked for a bounty. I won’t spoil what takes place after she joins the squad, but just know that it is both incredibly weird and violent. In the case of this film, I find it might be a bit unfair to comment on the acting here in any real capacity if only because every role seems to be played with a sort of tongue in cheek. In particular, fan favorite Tak Sakaguchi (VERSUS, DEATH TRANCE) plays what I believe to be his oddest role yet, acting as a kind of den mother for the mutant squad. If your image of him is that of the cool and composed fighter, just wait until you see the final battle sequence. All things considered, lead actress Yumi Sugimoto does a suitable job playing the emotional rollercoaster that is Rin.

The visual effects aren’t particularly great, but the sheer creativity on display is certainly commendable. I never thought I would witness a chainsaw protruding from the rear end of a high school girl used as a weapon of terror for example. The effect itself is far from convincing, but the idea is crazy enough that by the time it’s revealed you’ve already gotten used to that kind of thing. Where the film does suffer is in its pacing. The film drags a lot, unlike ALIEN VS NINJA. There’s a long stretch in the middle where not a whole lot seems to occur, and some of the action sequences go on for a bit too long. One simply finds themselves checking their watches a little more often than not. Also due to the greater frequency with which the film dips into humor, there are more jokes that fall flat. Still, there are enough crazy moments that will certainly leave you laughing uncomfortably if nothing else. In the end, MUTANT GIRL SQUAD is a fun, if uneven follow up to Sushi Typhoon’s first film, ALIEN VS NINJA. I’d wholly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed such offerings as MACHINE GIRL, ROBO GEISHA and TOKYO GORE POLICE. Just don’t go in expecting a masterpiece of V-cinema and I think you’ll have a good time with it.

For more information on Sushi Typhoon please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: