Brutal Blu Ray Review (Unearthed Films)

Brutal is a 2018 horror film written, produced, & directed by Takashi Hirose (Bandaged, Moratorium, & Return of the Golden Lily). A savage murderer (played by: Butch from Karate Kill & Moratorium) is on the prowl in Japan. One by one, his victims fall but what is he searching for? The same thing a female killer (played by: Ayano from Flower 1/2, The Scream, Saudade, & Bandaged) is looking for. We are all looking for that special love of our lives & sometimes, we’re willing to kill everyone to find that special someone. Both psychopaths are struggling to find their soulmate as their body count piles up. This is the tale of two people finding each other in the most vicious way possible in the craziest love story ever told!!!!

Brutal could be the bastard child of Takashi Miike. As you know, Japanese cinema can be really messed up & this one delivers in that department. Don’t expect a great story or consistent plot for this but it does get crazy. It takes a little bit to actually pay off but it’s only over an hour long anyways so it’s a easy experience. The acting is over the top & they know exactly what kind of feature they were making when it comes to Brutal. American actress Katrina Grey (Hard Target 2, Ghost House, Locked Up, & Vampire Reborn) randomly shows up in this. The special fx & gore are one of the best things about this low budget production. When the two lead characters actually meet up, it gets wild & it’s worth the wait. This one has no meaning or message, it’s just pure violence & gruesome entertainment. I love the serial killer sub-genre. If you are into extreme horror & looking for some shock value, Brutal comes RECOMMENDED!!!!

Let’s talk about the high definition presentation & special features from Unearthed Films! This 1080p (2.35.1) transfer goes for the grindhouse look with grain & print damaged added to it. It actually adds to the experience & it fits something like Brutal perfect. It has a Japanese 2.0 PCM track with optional English subtitles. It’s solid especially for a low budget feature & it gets the job done here. The dialogue is good, the killing gets a boost, & the music is elevated here. All the extras are in Japanese with no English subtitles included. It has a little over 2 minutes of “Behind the Scenes” footage from the production. It has 3 different music videos which includes Nakigoto, Brutal, & Blood Music. It also has a variety of “Trailers” from Unearthed Films. It’s available everywhere right now, CHECK IT OUT!!!!