Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

X-Cross Blu-ray Movie Review

Friendship costs a leg these days

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 28, 2011

The official synopsis for the Japanese film “X Cross” details a vicious story where crazed pagan men chase around helpless young girls, attempting to sever their legs and offer the bloody prizes to their deity. Understandably, this rundown conjures images of dank cinematography, porno-level acting chops, and a diseased interest in the prolonged suffering of women -- not exactly an inviting viewing event. To my great surprise (and deepest relief), “X Cross” is actually nothing sinister, passing on the tempting opportunity to make a low-budget commotion with repulsive ingredients. Instead, it’s a spunky, darkly comic creation with a refreshingly limited amount of agony to share. A few legs are indeed violated, but the production is more interested in the peppy particulars of rural survival and sisterhood, creating a superbly entertaining comic thriller with a few well placed twists and turns.

Heading to a relaxing weekend at the Ashikari Village hot springs resort, Shiyori (Nao Matsushita) and Aiko (Ami Suzuki) are struggling with their longstanding friendship. Burned by her cheating boyfriend, Shiyori is having a difficult time coping with the loss, finding Aiko distant on the road, inferring their union doesn’t mean all that much to her. Arriving at the resort, the young women are quickly faced with bizarre occurrences and odd villagers, keeping them even more on edge. When a petty argument separates the pair, Shiyori is soon confronted with the true purpose of the resort: a cover for a cult that believes in the amputation of female legs to ward off any incoming disasters ordered up by the gods. Now desperate to escape the grounds, Shiyori takes off into the night, using her cell phone to navigate possible help and potential threat as she searches for Aiko, who’s also having a devil of a time getting out of harm’s way, pursued by a demented woman with a special connection to the visitor.

“X Cross” is teeming of surprises, which is a wonderful change of pace from traditional gore zone accomplishments. Although burdened with a repellent premise (courtesy of author Nobuyuki Joko), the feature carries a fairly light tone, gradually revealing itself to be more of a camp distraction than an inescapable dungeon of doom. Director Kenta Fukasaku (“Battle Royale II”) provides a confident vision for the feature, proficiently balancing tonal adjustments, working through moments of comedy, horror, suspense, and even female companionship to create something off-kilter, yet satisfying as a morbid thrill ride. The best compliment I can pay “X Cross” is that it’s never predictable, always enthusiastic to reshuffle itself and pursue the oddity further, keeping viewers on their toes.

Again, with all the promises of limb removal, it’s stunning to find “X Cross” to be more of a mystery than a nasty slasher film. The separate adventures of Shiyori and Aiko are gifted extended attention by the director, who not only tracks the progress of the scream queens, but constantly “rewinds” the action, shifting perspectives to keep the girls and the viewer in a regular state of disorientation, unsure of who to trust and where to run. While it’s not a complicated story, the production sustains the confusion, creating substantial uncertainty along the way. Shiyori has it the worst, fearing Aiko has brought her to the resort on purpose, while fielding phone calls from a stranger who knows a thing or two about the cult and their centuries-old foot fetish. There’s also an infirmed pal chiming in, assisting Shiyori with speedy internet research to help deduce loyalties.

Actually, cell phones play a critical part in “X Cross,” giving traditional chase elements a modern technological spin, managing to connect the characters while maintaining their distance. The phone-based panic actually increases the picture’s tension; not only are Shiyori and Aiko dealing with crazed cults and general bedlam, but there’s also cell service to contend with, making bars as vital as oxygen in this nutty film. Camera phones are even turned into weapons in the final act. Wow.

“X Cross” flares up into a full cartoon at certain junctures, most involving the fierce battle between Aiko and her eye-patched assailant, who continually beat the stuffing out of each other as they tear all around the resort. There’s even a scuffle between the pair that involves a chainsaw and a pair of giant scissors. Now that’s something I doubt I’ll ever see in a movie again, though I’ve heard some interesting rumors about James Ivory’s latest production.

X-Cross Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "X-Cross" is stable, though it sustains a softness that's never distracting, but restrains the picture some in the detail department. Pockets of noise pop up from time to time, along with some ringing. Textures are successfully communicated on facial nuances and set design elements -- the woodsy interiors of the village are well preserved. Make-up efforts also look fresh. Colors offer limited energy, but hues are communicative, offering memorable reds with bloodshed and cell phone cases, while the light autumnal browns and grays also register strongly. Blacks read a touch inky at times, especially when the picture moves into evening adventures, yet the details on hairstyles and secretive prowling remain intact, never blocked out by overwhelming crush. Skintones are comfortable and natural.

X-Cross Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is quite amusing at times, maintaining the picture's interest in suspense by playing up sound effects, with pronounced movement and violent clashes employed to amplify the exaggerated mood of the piece. Hearty directional activity keeps the tension alert, with voices and attacking weirdos making good use of the surrounds, which also maintain a pleasing hold on atmospherics, delivering trickling streams and crunchy leaves as the characters race around the woodland premises. Interiors are also deep. Dialogue is crisp but never weighty, leaving voices on the thin side. Expositional needs are met, but genuine verbal power is lacking. Low-end isn't robust, but useful for the more destructive scenes and a club excursion that introduces some techno bounce. Scoring is tinny but unobtrusive, keeping to the back.

X-Cross Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Of (20:40, SD) is a brief yet comprehensive inspection of the filmmaking struggle, mixing interviews with cast and crew with plentiful fly-on-the-wall BTS footage, observing the production's daily business. The dominate element here is gratitude, with the professionals communicating a refreshingly upbeat attitude about the work and their hopes for the finished product. While the chats are friendly, the good stuff is reserved for the on-set action, watching Kenta Fukasaku build numerous screen moments. Spanning from day one to the film's wrap, the featurette packs quite a bit into a short run time.

• T.V. Spots (:50, SD) and a Theatrical Trailer (1:35, SD) are included.

X-Cross Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The "X Cross" climax unleashes expected sprays of blood, giving into the violent potential of the story with a chaotic showdown that offers some neat rescue operation theatrics and a satisfying twist when it comes to the revelation of the baddie. Again, it's not mind-bending material, but much of the conclusion is curved enough to encourage further interest, while also paying off a surprisingly sincere relationship between Shiyori and Aiko -- a pair of traumatized BFFs to the bitter end. I'm not sure why the studio is selling "X Cross" as a severed-limb free for all, but I supposed gnarly violence is more marketable than sturdy filmmaking, topped off with moderate wackiness, impressive performances, and a legitimate read of female bonding.