Helldriver
Director: Yoshihiro Nishimura
Stars: Yimiko Hara, Eihi Shiina
Studio: Well-Go USA Entertainment
MPAA Ratting: Unrated
Running Time 117 Mins

Plot Synopsis:

“Helldriver” is the latest film from “Tokyo Gore Police” and Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl director Yoshihiro Nishimura. He’s also one of the director, who will participating in “The ABCs of Death” horror anthology film.
The film is about a mysterious mist that blankets the entire northern half of Japan, turning most of Japan’s residents into zombies that crave for human flesh. This turns the courtry of Japan into a country of chaos, as a wall separates the living from the flesh craving zombies. The only person that can help the country a high school girl (Yimiko Hara) with a chainsaw sword that is powered from her own artificial heart. Now, she leads an army of mercenaries on a mission to get rid of the zombie queen (Eihi Shiina) and put an end to all the zombies.

Film Review:
"Helldriver" is one of those films that entertains you, even though the action get crazy at times. Co-Writer and directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura does a very job making the film entertaining through his direction. One of the things that makes this good, the handling of the gore effects. There is tons of blood used for this film. He uses them, in a way that you feel like the blood is directly hitting you. It adds to all the chaotic violence that goes on. The pace of the film is also what this a fun film. Nishimura directs the action at a fast pace that leads to some very good set pieces. He makes the pace action so fast that it makes the action and sequences work. It’s something that a fan of Japanese horror will enjoy.

The screenplay written by Nishimura and writer Daichi Nagsia is one that doesn't lack creativity. One of the things that makes this screenplay work, the way that created the zombies. These weren't your run of the mill that your accustomed to seeing on the screen. The writers do a good job giving them dialogue and various weapons that they use. It makes them different and have a personality to them. This film is supposed to be fun and not serious. The other thing that they do well, there were subplots and backstory to some of these characters. By doing that, it makes the characters interesting to the point that you want to follow them. Most Japanese horror films aren't usually taken seriously, but this film provides insight to some of the characters. That's what makes the characters and the screenplay work.

Blu-Ray Extras:

First on the disc is "Sushi Typhoon Invades Tokyo". The twenty two minutes goes into the first four films that the studio "Sushi Typhoon” is putting out into the film market. It has interviews from some of the stars of those films, but it more of a promotional featurette for upcoming DVD and Blu- Ray Releases. Next on the disc is three short films. “Helldriver Dokata” “Catch Me if You Can” and “Bailout!”. All three film were good with the first two films fitting very well within the "Helldriver" universe and while the third one uses the universe as the background and the tone is different. After that, the disc wraps up with a brief director's introduction of the film, official trailer for “Helldriver” and more trailers for other Sushi Typhoon releases.
The problem with this package was, there were hardly any interviews from the cast. I wished they had information on the production of the film, as that’s lacking on this disc.

Final Summary:

I had a fun time watching “Helldriver”, as the film is very entertaining with out of control action. I just wished, the disc would have provided information on the production of the film.

Review Rating: Four Stars
Extras Rating: Two Stars

Well-Go USA has send us information regarding their upcoming Japanesse Sci-Fi/Horror film "Helldriver". The film is the latest film from director Yoshihiro Nishimura, who's directed the crazy gorefests "Tokyo Gore Police" and Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl". Special feature include an interview with Nishimura, Three Short films, The Making of Helldriver” featurette, "Sushi Typhoon: Tokyo Invasion!" featurette and trailers. "Helldriver" will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack on November 22nd.

Press Release:

From director Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl) comes the epic, apocalyptic Zombie-fighting road movie Helldriver, featuring non-stop, over-the-top splatter action debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 22 from Well Go USA. The latest cult film from the prolific Japanese production company Sushi Typhoon, Helldriver takes place in a Japan where half the population has become not-so-sexy flesh eaters and the economy has gently withered away ... until Kika (Yumiko Hara) arrives. A stunning high school girl armed with an artificial heart-powered chainsaw sword, she leads a motley crew of desperados on a secret mission into the zombie-infected wilds to exterminate zombie queen Rikka (Eihi Shiina, Tokyo Gore Police) and put an end to the plague of the living dead.

The extensive bonus features include three exclusive short films set within the Helldriver universe: Helldriver Dokata (directed by Helldriver First Assistant Director Jun Shiozaki), Catch Me If You Can! (directed by Lighting Director Hiroshi Ota), and Bailout! (directed by poster designer Yoshiki Takahashi). Additional added value includes an in-depth interview with the Japanese splatter king himself, Yoshihiro Nishimura and two behind-the-scenes featurettes: “The Making of Helldriver,” directed by Helldriver actor Demo Tanaka that not only details the making of the film, but also the literally hellish conditions under which the film was shot (two-week shooting schedule, bad weather) and "Sushi Typhoon: Tokyo Invasion!," featuring interviews with many of the Sushi Typhoon team while launching the Sushi Typhoon festival, where four films were screened for a month in the Ginza area of Tokyo. Helldriver will be available in the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP.

Synopsis:
A meteorite crashes into Japan, releasing a toxic ash that turns inhabitants in the northern half of the country into bloodthirsty zombies. Some time later, with the north now walled off from the rest of Japan, a young woman (Yumiko Hara) is charged with leading a group of ragtag soldiers into the infected region to kill the "zombie queen" (Shiina) - who also happens to be her homicidal mother.

Bonus Features Include:
$ Director Interview with Yoshihiro Nishimura
§ “The Making of Helldriver” featurette
§ "Sushi Typhoon: Tokyo Invasion!" featurette
§ Short Films
o Helldriver Dokata
o Catch Me If You Can!
o Bailout!
§ Trailers