DVD Review: Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack

Giant, killer fish attack Tokyo!

An adaptation of the popular manga by Junji Ito, Gyo centers around the “death stench”, a revolting smell first encountered in connection with creatures appearing to be bizarre and aggressive mutant fish with scuttling, sharp metal legs.

Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack is the latest from director Takayuki Hirao released in the UK by Terracotta Distribution. With that crazy, fun title like that it really tells you all you need to know about the majority of the content. We follow three girls, Koari, Erika and Aki who are in the midst of the fish attack. Koari travels to Tokyo to find her fiancé, Tadashi, and the story centres on her journey to save him.

(Courtesy of Terracotta Distribution)

The film starts off with a less than normal premise and then sets out to become more and more surreal as it goes along. Fish Attack has a lot that’s right about it, it has all the elements an animé fan needs, violence, sex , nudity, humour, gore, swearing and storyline more mental than even the title suggests. What it also has is some great animation and some stand out visuals, such as a threesome being interrupted by a shark on legs walking past the window. A scene which would be welcome in any film!

(Courtesy of Terracotta Distribution)

After the action switches from Okinawa to Tokyo the film loses itself a little. The crazy, but intriguing, premise of fish attacking people is lost amongst a bevy of stench clouds and tentacles. The story moves away from the rather magnificent sharks on legs and moves into a confusing and ultimately boring direction. The infected humans mutating takes something away from the film instead of adding to the entertainment. Maybe it’s a case of trying too hard to be inventive.

(Courtesy of Terracotta Distribution)

Having said that the animation still provides some amazing visuals, an example being a girl being slowly eaten alive by a million tiny fish screaming for help before giving up and maniacally laughing her last laugh and it is enough to keep your attention even if the story doesn’t. Underneath all the craziness there is a sad tale to be told here and at just over 70 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome and is well worth your time.

Special features:

Interview with Manga master Junji Ito

Terracotta Far East Film Festival 2012 Montage

Details:

Label: Third Window Films

Release date: 3rd September 2012

Certificate: 15

Running time:  71 mins

Genre: Anime

Director: Takayuki Hirao

Review written by Dean Hilliam

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