A very stylish, engrossing, and darkly humorous film. While this film may take some strange turns with its storytelling, the aesthetic, sound, and vision are superb! I believe this is a film that we will look back on as ahead of its time and I can see a lot of the choices in direction being inspiration for many future films. The way the director uses video game culture in such existential and unexpected ways was fresh and very enjoyable. Many of the succinct and strangely deep lines, delivered perfectly by these young actors, will also stay in the memory long after the film has been watched. This film swung for the fences and, in many ways, was very successful!
7 Reviews
I give it a 7 mostly for its originality.
planktonrules3 November 2019
"We Are Little Zombies" is one of the stranger Japanese films I have seen--and that's saying a lot because I have seem many bizarro movies from this country! Overall, while I did NOT love the film, I saw enough unusual content that I think it's worth seeing IF you have a high tolerance for the strange.
The film begins with a very funny but odd set of funerals. Instead of being sad, four orphans are pretty much ambivalent about the deaths of their families and the kids become friends. But they have no desire to go to live with relatives or strangers, so the four move to a junk heap to live. Soon they create a weird pop band and they strike gold with the song "We Are Little Zombies". The song is like a brain worm....despite not being a great song, it stays stuck in your head! But the quartet's fame is brief....and strange.
I give this one 10 for originality and a 4 for editing and pacing. The film IS overlong and it seems as if the director/writer had no idea when to end it or how. But as long as you don't mind, it's worth your time.
The film begins with a very funny but odd set of funerals. Instead of being sad, four orphans are pretty much ambivalent about the deaths of their families and the kids become friends. But they have no desire to go to live with relatives or strangers, so the four move to a junk heap to live. Soon they create a weird pop band and they strike gold with the song "We Are Little Zombies". The song is like a brain worm....despite not being a great song, it stays stuck in your head! But the quartet's fame is brief....and strange.
I give this one 10 for originality and a 4 for editing and pacing. The film IS overlong and it seems as if the director/writer had no idea when to end it or how. But as long as you don't mind, it's worth your time.
Fun and quirky!
SiskelRedux25 July 2020
This was a breathe of fresh air! Really unique. Tremendous application of contemporary editing technique-- meticulous hyper-montage construction. There are times when technique hollows the film's emotional contributions but still, over all, worth the watch.
Brilliant movie
bernatorriols27 December 2019
If you are sick of watching movies that look all the same and are meaningless Little Zombies is your solution to your problems. The aesthetics on this movie are awesome, there's a fine dark humor and it has some deep meaning, this movie shows the lack of empathy the younger ones have nowadays, growing up with no one who really understands them. This movie is so original and exceptional. It rocks.
A Reminder that feelings aren't simple
spiestoon11 July 2020
Saying this movie was amazing would an understatement. It's a reminder to people that feelings aren't as fast as light and and sometimes we won't know that they are there right away. It also perfectly portrays how some kids react to death. An incredible detail I noticed is how the camera often tilts around character during their monologues the same way a child would lose focus when talking to an adult. This is the type of film you need to see at least once in your life. It's incredible to see a movie take on darker themes in a way anyone could understand.
Dark, Funny, and Beautiful
missamatullah9 February 2022
It's an absolute shame that the rating is so low! This is such a unique and fun movie! And I'm not even trying to kiss it's a*# or anything, I'm 100% serious.
It manages to be dark but with enough quirk and humor to not be depressing all the way through. You have fun but then you're reminded that the situation that the kids are in is really heart wrenching. The visuals alone are outstanding. It's one of the most visually unique movies I've ever seen, and I've seen stuff like Swiss Army Man, The Handmaiden, and Scott Pilgrim.
If you love weird movies that have a lot of passion behind them then PLEASE check this movie out.
It manages to be dark but with enough quirk and humor to not be depressing all the way through. You have fun but then you're reminded that the situation that the kids are in is really heart wrenching. The visuals alone are outstanding. It's one of the most visually unique movies I've ever seen, and I've seen stuff like Swiss Army Man, The Handmaiden, and Scott Pilgrim.
If you love weird movies that have a lot of passion behind them then PLEASE check this movie out.
Makoto Nagahisa is a new mad man to follow in japanese cinema!
Dare_Daniel2 December 2020
This is my favourite "life is like a videogame" movie now. Previously, that place belonged to Brian De Palma's Scarface, but the final act of "Game Over> Continue>Yes" in this movie won me over the bad sequel on the Wii.
Can't wait to explore more from this director in the future. You can find all his previous work (mostly videoclips) on his website. Also, make sure you watch his short movie "And So We Put Goldfish in the Pool." which shares some of the same style.
Can't wait to explore more from this director in the future. You can find all his previous work (mostly videoclips) on his website. Also, make sure you watch his short movie "And So We Put Goldfish in the Pool." which shares some of the same style.
See also
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