Alien vs. Ninja

Madman

R4 DVD

Japanese with English subtitles

When it comes to schlock the Americans are not the only contenders. This Japanese film has all the requisite bits for a monster movie – lots of detached body parts, clashing of cutlery, gore galore and man-in-rubber-suit monsters. We also have a gorgeous girl ninja who makes black leather look better than it ever looked on the cow.

The plot is about as basic as they come. Alien predators comes to earth to breed, meet bunch of ninjas, fighting follows. The rest of the film seems to be just an extended battle with the monsters. The acting is crude and stylised, the characters are pretty ordinary and undeveloped and the compulsory fat guy comic relief is hopelessly overdone.

So why did I love the film? Perhaps because it is so overdone. It’s a film worthy of Roger Corman on his best days, although he would have worked in some bikini girls as well. Somehow. It’s the sheer bravery of trying to blend two genres and so totally failing that gives the film its appeal. It’s a great laugh and well worth watching if only for the leather-clad girl.

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