Today’s quick review: Casshern. Under the rule of the authoritarian Eastern Federation, Dr. Kotaro Azuma (Akira Terao) toils to perfect Neo Cells, a medical treatment capable of healing any injury. But when a lab accident gives birth to Neo-Sapiens, a race of superbeings bent on wiping out humanity, Dr. Azuma’s son Tetsuya (Yusuke Iseya), a soldier killed in battle and revived with the Neo Cells treatment, becomes the only hope of ending the bloodshed.
Casshern is a Japanese sci-fi action movie set in a bleak future where technological progress has failed to curb mankind’s violent tendencies. The film explores the futility of war, the inevitability of death, and human cruelty through the story of one man given a second chance to set things right. However, Casshern’s execution falls short of its ambitions, and flawed storytelling undermines its potential as an action movie and as a drama.
Casshern suffers primarily from unclear presentation. Key plot points are never fully explained, the story relies on shaky logic to hold it together, and choppy, busy cinematography makes the events of the film hard to follow at a visual level. None of these flaws are fatal, but they do make watching Casshern an uphill battle. The movie is further burdened with an oddly structured plot, high doses of melodrama, and an overly long finale.
Still, Casshern does show potential. The themes it tries to explore are a good fit for its dystopian world, and they only miss their mark due to flawed execution. The film’s liberal use of CGI helps its setting and action sequences feel larger than life. The action itself does not have the weight or consistency it should have, but its energy at least partially makes up for its lack of technical expertise.
Flawed storytelling and mediocre action keep Casshern from holding broad appeal, but dedicated sci-fi fans will appreciate what it is trying to do. Those hoping for stylish action or a truly moving story should skip it; those simply looking for something new may want to give it a shot. For sci-fi action in a similar vein, check out Aeon Flux, Immortal, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, or Sucker Punch.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent action and the makings of a good story held back by unclear storytelling and inexpert direction.