If there is one corner of the world that could bring the bizarre out of cinema it is Japan. Not only have they given the world some of the most revolutionary horror films ever made but in their midst, the strangest and craziest too.

 

‘R100’ sits firmly in the middle and follows Takafumi ('Ichi the Killer' star Nao Omori) who joins a secret bondage club to satisfy his sadomasochism. Welcomed to the club under the condition that he cannot leave with the year contract soon becomes a decision he will regret. As the random sexually violent acts build up, the accidental death of one of the ladies sees the acts continue to a more sinister level.

 

While we learn that his wife is held in a coma with him looking after his son along with his father-in-law, Takafumi finds himself out of his depth but then as he falls deeper into the seedy world of S&M what should be sickening becomes more arousing.

 

For a film with such a dark subject matter, ‘R100’ is often hilarious to watch and whether Takafumi is getting kicked up up against a window in public or being spat on while his master dances around him so innocently.

 

Whether you watch this in the light of hilarity or the disturbing scenes which in any other context should have you reaching for the skip button, but instead, part of the charm is that it becomes so unpredictable. All is well until his family become involved when events take a sinister film but then within the final third, Matsumoto takes a completely surreal approach. The Queen of Gobbling will give you nightmares and when the CEO of the Bondage club turns up, ‘R100’ just turns bat shit crazy and turns into a mockery of its own sorts.

 

‘R100’ truly is a film of two halves and much like the fourth wall sub-plot, this ends with a complete mind fuck that will either have you scratching your head or hitting rewind. One thing is for certain, ‘R100’ is bat shit crazy. Unnerving, sinister and downright hilarious, it may take a few viewings to truly understand this, if ever, but there is plenty of entertainment to be had here leaving you with an ode to joy.