Cyberpunk Review » Rubber’s Lover

February 20, 2006

Rubber’s Lover

Year: 1996

Directed by: Shozin Fukui

Written by: Shozin Fukui

IMDB Reference

Degree of Cyberpunk Visuals: High

Correlation to Cyberpunk Themes: Medium

Key Cast Members:

  • Kiku: Nao
  • Shimika: Youta Kawase
  • Rating: 7 out of 10

    Screencap

    Rectal injection for instant effect!

     

    Overview: Rubber’s Lover is one of the truly bizarre Japanese cyberpunk films. Rubber’s Lover is an extreme cyberpunk movie that includes a number of truly outlandish violence and sex scenes. Fukui’s entire message here is summed up well on his interview on the DVD, “Dominant power comes when mental anguish exceeds physical tolerance.” Truly, this is what this movie is about. Chances are, for most of you, this movie will be pretty much completely different from anything you’ve ever seen - which is reason enough to watch it.

     

    Screencap

     

    The story concerns three scientists who are attempting to create psychic powers in their test subjects. They use a combination of customized psychotropic drugs and extreme sound wave patterns engineered to torture their test subjects into unimagined mental states in the hopes of surpassing their normal mental abilities. Unfortunately, their test subjects have a tendency to die gruesome deaths by exploding blood everywhere. The corporation funding the research has decided to pull the plug, and have sent Kiku, a low ranking finance employee (who is about to quit to marry the head manager) to relay the news. Two of the scientists go mad and decide to administer the torture treatment to the third scientist, Shimika, as their last hope for developing psychic powers. When Kiku she discovers their torture chamber, one of the scientists abducts and rapes her, and then includes her as a test subject. Shimika and Kiku join forces and try to escape but are captured again and are then subjected to extreme torture in hopes of increasing the speed of success.

     

    Screencap

     

    Unfortunately for the scientists, they are successful. During the infamous “rubber suit” treatment, Shimika exhibits massive psychic abilities – so much so that he no longer needs the equipment to mentally attack his captors. There are various side characters in this including Kiki’s corporate slimebag fiancé, and an assistant chick who has a penchant for slapping test subjects.

     

    Screencap

     

    The Visuals: The entire movie takes place in a few rooms, and from this perspective, its pretty amazing how realistic and unique a film can be made on such a small budget. The shots seem very well designed to make maximal use out of very meager special effects. Massive quantities of dry ice, blood and screaming make up the bulk of the visuals, but this ends up working in black and white. But what Rubber’s Lover gives you is an ever increasingly insane set of scenes. Whether or not you follow the meager plot, you’ll see some truly bizarre scenes. The weirdest has to be the sex scene near the end where the guy orgasms while ripping the screaming woman’s chest open while he’s watched by the laughing corporate slimebag.

     

    Screencap

     

    The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a Japanese Cyberpunk flick that gives you something different then Tetsuo, Rubber’s Lover is a decent choice. It doesn’t have the deep philosophical message that Tetsuo does, but the cinematography and crafting is done well enough that you will get the sense you are watching an art film versus a purely bizarre sequence of violent images. Truly, Fukui put out a far better film than one would expect given an almost non-existant budget. I had taken a point away for the constant screaming, which began to detract from the film after a while, but I finally decided this is sort of necessary screaming (mostly). All in all, Rubber’s Lover is well worth watching if you’re interested in understanding Japanese Cyberpunk as a sub-genre. Check out page 2 if you want to see more visuals - WARNING - some are explicit.

    Page 2: More Screencaps –>>

    ~See movies similar to this one~

    Tags: cyberpunk movie review RubbersLover

    This post has been filed under 7 Star Movies, Horror, Japanese Cyberpunk, Good low-budget movies, Surreal Cyberpunk Movies, Cyberpunk movies from 1990 - 1999 by SFAM.

    Comments

    March 18, 2006

    Case said:

    Are you also going to cover director Shozin Fukui’s 964 PINOCCHIO, the semi-prequel to this film?

    SFAM said:

    Hi Case, yep, definitely. I actually was planning to do the review for 964 a few days ago but didn’t have time for the screencaps yet (I like Rubber’s Lover better, BTW). In the Meatspace thead, there is a list of all the cyberpunk movies I’m tracking and reviewing. Check it out.

    Case said:

    Oh, I agree…LOVER is the infinitely better film of the two. ‘Just the completist in me talking. Yeah, I’ll probably show on the forums eventually…when I finally stop being lazy.

    November 17, 2007

    Jackie said:

    Did you notice in the beginning of the film they show images of animals from test labs? The idea was to make a comparison between them testing on Shimika and testing on animals.

    I don’t recall what company version of the film I got, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have forgotten something like a sex scene where the guy rips the chest open of the girl he’s raping. I’m not that desensitized to violence.

    Although, I tend to not really pay attention if I know it’s good acting and fake blood. Like, it’s totally different if it’s real. Sorry, I keep feeling like I have to justify to people why I watch sick s**t like Japanese cyberpunk to people. LoL. I’m not a demented human being, I sware!

    If there is a uncensored version of Rubber’s Lover produced with English subtitles, please let me know. I have not yet seen the 2nd page so I’m not sure if I’d buy it, but I am curious as to see if I have a censored version or not.

    Jackie said:

    Upon viewing page 2, it seems indeed I have a censored version of Rubber’s Lover. Also, I wanted to say, although I am a mostly straight female, I found the technology-enhanced orgasm chick scene to be rather hot. Ok, fine, I have a thing for Asian women, but I ask you, do any of you not have a thing for Asian women? LoL

    August 18, 2009

    Strapped&Jacked said:

    absolutley divine i took alot from this movie and the sheer volume of art that is thisprsent in this film has gven me much inspiration

    September 23, 2010

    Дима said:

    GetUp - теперь доступно всем. Архив фильмов музыки.

    Leave a comment


    ~All Related Entries Related This~

     

    <<--Back to top

    Made with WordPress and the Semiologic CMS | Design by Mesoconcepts