Wild Zero is a 1999 Japanese comedy horror film directed by Tetsuro Takeuchi. The film follows Ace a fan of the Japanese rock band Guitar Wolf, who after assisting the group the singer makes him his blood brother and gives him a whistle to blow encase of trouble. Following this Ace meets his love interest Tobio during a gas station robbery and find themselves in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Wild Zero is a crazy fun over the top film that fans of cult films should watch.
The direction in the film is good. The film starts out crazy right away with aliens coming to invade earth in the form of a meteorite that crashed to earth last night, as the film is very much a rock and roll film and filled with rock and roll excess. The film uses classic b-movie troupes such as aliens in a UFO invasion and infuses them with punk rock energy. This crazy energy is further shown in Guitar Wolfs rock show with electricity going everywhere as the film has a feeling of being on drugs. Within the film the band Guitar Wolf act like the moral arbiters of good and justice saving the world as the film has a cool cartoonish way of presenting them with the fan Ace being the protagonist. The film is full of crazy b movie sleaze, with an almost epic mythology created around the band Guitar Wolf. The film being about Guitar Wolf has the feel of a music video to it as well of being like a rebel biker movie. Again, the film has a cool road movie style coated in a 50s geezer rocker aesthetic to it. The film as full of classic movie troubles like with it being a zombie movie.
The film is full of interesting creative decisions such as when Ace is shown with his name and his face in red heart silhouette to show that him and Tobio the girl he meets are in love with each other. The film is great self-aware b-movie as a love letter to schlock complete with eccentric over the top characters. The film has interesting effects such as the characters running away in a fast forward way showing that the film is crazy and over the top. The film interestingly combats all this over-the-top stuff with classic cute Japanese moments with a girl singing to a club manager, as the film is also dripping with sexual sleaze and b movie violence. The movie is very much a rock and roll film as shown with Guitar Wolf playing their song in red lighting with flames coming out from the mic. The film also has themes of transgenderism with Tobio revealed to have a penis. Within the film Guitar Wolf are presented as the guardian angels of rock and roll that will save the world as further shown as the UFO approaches, as within this moment Ace man’s up through the power of rock and roll. Guitar Wolf are like superhero’s responding to the signal sent by Ace as they turn up and start shooting and killing zombies showing the rock and roll b movie mythology nature of the film. Guitar Wolf then takes out the zombies by using laser guitar picks as throwing stars to defeat the zombies, as the film is a crazy b-movie combined with a rock and roll style. This crazy rock and roll style are morphed with b-movies such as zombie films and sci-film elements showcasing the power of rock and roll. In his time of need Ace calls on guitar wolf for help, guitar wolf tells him that it doesn’t matter if she is transgender as there are no boundaries in rock and roll. From this Ace goes to save Tobio as the film is very much a rock and roll zombie action film with over-the-top fight scenes. The character of the captain shoots laser beams from his eyes at Guitar Wolf destroys the UFOs until bass and drum wolf blow him up with a bazooka. This again shows the over-the-top crazy punk nature of the film making the film enjoyably nuts. Ace finds Tobio at the gas station as the zombie version of Toshi and Hanko find each other as they kiss as love conquers all. This shows how the film has cheesy troupes making for a fun self-aware film. In the climax of the film the alien mothership arrives showcasing the crazy b-movie sci-fi elements of the film. Guitar Wolf then stands atop a building as he unsheathes his guitar with is fretboard being the handle of a sword. He then uses the blade to cut through the mothership which explodes as the zombies are neutralised. The film is great in its use of b-movie sci fi and horror troupes to make a great crazy over the top b-movie. Ace then confesses his love to Tobio as they kiss stating that love conquers all. The film ends at sun rise with Guitar Wolf giving Ace a comb as a sign of respect as they drive of. Ace states that he never saw a Guitar Wolf show again, but he has learnt that “love has no borders, nationalities, or genders” and that he will remain with Tobio. This shows Guitar Wolf as the ultimate arbiters of good and justice saving the world along the way in their rock and roll quest.
The acting in the film is good. Seji does a good job as Guitar Wolf the badass leader of the band and saviour of the world. Bass Wolf does a good him as himself being on of the bands members that saves the world. Drum Wolf does a good him as himself being on of the band members that saves the world. Masashi Endō does a good job as Ace the everyman protagonist who comes into his own in the film. Kwancharu Shitichai with the voice of Yōko Asada does a good job as Tobio Ace’s love interest. Nakajo Haruka with the voice of Kazuko Yanaga does a good job as Yamazaki a arms dealer. Taneko does a good job as Hanako a friend of Yamazaki. Yoshiyuki Morishita does a good job as Toshi Yamazaki’s lover. Maso does a good job as Maso Hanako and Toshi’s friend and fellow robber. Fusamori Tawaki does a good job as Mori. Murata Akihiko does a good job as Toshio. Shiro Namiki does a good job as Kondo.
The writing in the film is good. The film starts out crazy right off the bat with aliens coming in UFOs to invade earth from a meteorite that crashed on earth last night as the film is very much a b-movie. The films punk rock insanity is shown with Guitar Wolf playing a show were everything is crazy; electricity is shooting everything as girls are on drugs. Within the film guitar wolf are the moral attributers of good and justice saving the world with a fan being the protagonist. The band confronts the sleazy club manager about him being a prevent as again they are like the moral arbiters of justice. This leads to a Mexican standoff were Ace a Guitar Wolf fan intervenes leading to a shoot-out were him and the club guy are injured. Guitar Wolf then makes a blood pack with Ace and gives him a whistle to call on them if he is in danger. This again gives the film a crazy punk rock mythology of guitar wolf being the ultimate power of the world. The club manager then turns into a crazy gunman and goes after them for revenge. Ace runs away from all the madness; he gets in a car and leaves when Tobio picks up his bags and walks to the gas station. The film is full of crazy cooky over the top characters, such as the crime boss that gets attacked by the zombies.
Ace looks after Tobio as she regains conciseness and the film shows that they like each other, as the criminals come across the zombies and shoot them. Ace encounters the zombies; he runs away at first however he sees guitar wolf saying to go back and get her through the power of rock and roll. This shows how rock can be a powerful motivator for people. The robbers are over the top characters in the film as the guy gets turned into a zombie as the girl runs away. The businessman guy at the gas station gets eaten by the zombies as Ace rescues Tabio form the zombies as they runway showing the film as a crazy b-movie. The film also has cute classical Japanese moments such as the girl signing to the club manager which is contrasted with the exploitation sleaze with the girl being naked in the shower and shooting the zombie. As this is going on the club manager decides to take down guitar wolf with a bunch of guns as he defends himself against the zombie invasion as the film is tribute to b-movies with guitar wolf being the centrepiece. Ace and Tobio then take refuge in a gas station as they fall in love however it is revelled that Tobio is transgender. Ace freaks out and runs away over her being a guy, guitar wolf then confronts Ace saying that love has no nationalities and genders, as rock and roll conquers all as shown with Ace signalling Guitar Wolf for help. UFO’s the emerges as Ace goes crazy and attacks the zombies as Wild Zero is love letter to b-movies. Guitar Wolf then stumble across two scummy characters looking for Ace, as the manager is also out for blood tracking Guitar Wolf down. The meteor people then come across Guitar Wolf as zombies arrive and Tobio in an armoured car and shoot the zombies as the film is a great love letter to b-movies. This b-movie style is further shown as Guitar Wolf takes out the zombies by using Laser Guitar picks as the throwing stars defeat the zombies. This shows the film as a rock and roll zombie b-movie combining these two things into one epic love letter to shlock.
The characters end up holding up in Yamazaki’s weapons cache as Toshi is bitten by a zombie as the aliens’ release zombies into the world, as they find gold balls inside the Zombie as Toshi turns into a zombie, as Guitar Wolf then go out to help the others. Wild Zero is ultimately a love letter to zombie cinema and b-movie cinema in general with zombies being a big feature of the film and the genre in general. The zombie Toshi starts looking for Hanako who shoots the captain showing that the power of love is a theme in the film, Guitar Wolf and the army woman then attack the zombie as Ace tires to fend them off as the film is fun b-movie shlock. A zombie then activates the whistle calling guitar wolf who kills the zombies and rescues Ace who is sad as he didn’t protect Tobio. The film is a great love letter to b-movie shlock combined with rock and roll excess. The films message is stated clearly by Guitar Wolf as that there are no boundaries to rock and roll and believe in rock and roll as Ace goes to save Tobio. The captain tracks down guitar wolf with the help of the zombified Toshi and launches a grenade into the building as the film is great b-movie trash excess. This crazy rock and roll style is further shown as one of the guitar wolf members jumps though the building with his guitar and he gets shot by the venue guy as he gets into a fight as he gets electrocuted as the film is awesome b-movie schlock. The captain shoots laser beans from his eyes at Guitar Wolf and destroys the UFOs as Bass and Drum Wolf blow him up with a bazooka. The film is a great love letter to b-movies sci-fi and horror and is great over the top fun. Ace then finds Tobio at the gas station as they embrace as the zombie versions of Toshi and Hanako find each other, and they kiss showing that love conquers all. The climax of the film is great in the most entertaining b-movie way possible. The alien mothership arrives, passing overhead, Guitar Wolf then stands atop a building, unsheathes his guitar with his fretboard being the handle of the sword and uses the blade to cut through the mothership which explodes as the zombies are neutralised. The film is a great love letter to horror and sci-fi b-movie shlock and is very entertaining. The film shows the power of rock and roll will save the world in the most awesome way possible. Ace then confesses his love for Tobio as they kiss showcasing the theme that love conquers all. The film ends at sunrise as Guitar Wolf give Ace a comb as a sign of respect as they drive of. Ace states that he never saw Guitar Wolf again, but he has learnt the main themes of the film “love has no borders, nationalities, or genders”, as he decides to remain with Tobio.
The cinematography in the film is decent. The film has cool swinging camera effects in one scene as well as use of black and white cinematography. The film has an interesting POV urination shot and other cool POV shots as well as a use of fades. The film has a use of zooms and a cool split screen effect. There is a cool effect were Ace is shown with his name and his face in red heart silhouette to show him and Tobio are in love. The film also has a cool use of red lighting. As well as this when the zombified Toshi and Haniko kiss and embrace a red heart silhouette is shown.
The special effects in the film an enjoyably cheesy in a b-movie style. The film has CGI for the UFO’s which are not great looking but work with the b-movie style the film also has a cool use of lighting and explosions. The film has fun blood and gore effects. The film has fun zombie make up and fire effects. The film uses CGI blood with the zombies’ heads exploding which doesn’t look good but works with the b-movie style, the film also has light and lighting effects with a very cool looking scene where they use Lazer guitar pick throwing stars. The film has cool fire effects with flames coming out of a car and explosions. The film also has a cool use of electricity effects, specifically in a scene using green electricity effects were lasers shoot from his eyes.
Wild Zero is a great fun funny over the top crazy b-movie that fans of cult films should watch.