Review by: Root Rot
Guinea Pig 2: The Flower of Flesh and Blood (1985)
Directed by: Hideshi Hino
Language: Japanese
In 2008, while in Minneapolis visiting my “like minded friend’s“, the topic of snuff films arises. After a long debate, we all agreed that a snuff film’s (true definition) could only be compared to that of the Chupacabra and Santa Clause. Not only did I learn a lot about the urban legend that surrounded “the snuff film” while in Minneapolis, It was also the first time I had heard of the Japanese mondo film Guinea Pig. After arriving back in Michigan I spent a short time looking for Guinea Pig to no avail. Two weeks ago, while looking through DVD’s at a flea market, I came across a copy of Guinea Pig, more specifically Guinea Pig 2: The Flower of Flesh and Blood (1985) and decided it was finally time to view it.
Plot: The films start with a woman walking out of what appears to be a bar as she is followed by a mystery person, who is also filming her. From this point, the film continues to be viewed from the mystery person’s POV. As the woman soon realizes that she is being followed, a short chase ensues. The chase concludes as the mystery person puts a rag over her mouth, knocking her out with what one can only assume is Ether. In the following scene you see the woman strapped to a gurney as the camera finally reveals the mystery person, who I will later refer to as the “bad guy”. To the viewer’s surprise the mystery person is a gapped tooth, mimed faced Samurai. To put it briefly the rest of the film includes, the bad guy talking a bunch of poetic shit to the camera, the molesting and Ecstasy drugging of the woman and a bunch of typical, gory and graphically detailed torture. The End.
Almost ten years after the film was released, not only did Charlie Sheen come to the conclusion that it was an actual snuff film, but he wasted valuable tax dollars reporting his possible drug induced ideas to the FBI. As foreseen, the FBI later concluded that the film was an….actual film. Within the first five minutes of viewing this film, your average fair weather horror fan (even drug induced) is able to recognize that the people in this film are acting.
Guinea Pig 2 is the second film in a series of seven. Directed by Hideshi Hino, Guinea Pig 2 has the run time of 42 minutes. In the US version titled, Slow Death: The Dismemberment, the snuff feel is played down by cutting out elements that may be misconstrued as real. The version of Guinea Pig that is the subject of this review has a “Snuff Cut” option in the menu for the full effect.
On the Root Rot scale of (A+) being the best and (E) the worst, the 1985 Guinea Pig 2 gets a (D)…
If it wasn’t for the idiotic assumption of Chuck Sheen, Guinea Pig 2 would just be another shitty exploitation flick.
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Love it! While I have not seen the Guinnea Pig films I’ll surely seek them out just so I can watch ‘em and think to myself that one day Charlie effin’ Sheen was coked outta his mind, freaked out and called the FBI in hysterics, claiming to have seen a snuff film. Yes, that is a recommendation I can buy into, indeed. Great stuff Root Rot, as per the usual.
I sent you something on Twitter
I love gorey dark movies but have never had an interest in these types of films…after reading your review I have even less interest. Thanks for the info, bro!
It was lame as hell… I was all jazzed about this flick, but major let down..
I thought that I was weird not getting into this one. Good to see that I am not. Well, actually. I am a little weird. LOL
The movie sucks!