Wild Zero (1999)

File Wild Zero under classic midnight cult movie fare, which already seems as quaint in a way as drive-in movies, doesn't it? Imagine. But it all may come back yet one way or another. I like the Variety quote someone at the Wikipedia hivemind dug up on this one: "Pic has everything the midnight crowd could possibly want, although such items generally have a hard time hitting other parts of the theatrical clock." So file it for the time being under youtube find and catch it when you can (or buy the DVD). It's a Japanese punk-rock zombie movie with aliens from outer space, a trans romance, a zombie romance, and lots of random energy. I'm not even sure where the title comes from. I like it as a rock 'n' roll movie best, featuring the Japanese band Guitar Wolf, the devastating power trio with members Guitar Wolf, Bass Wolf, and Drum Wolf. They're so badass and they're for real too, coming up in the late '80s as self-styled "jet rock 'n' roll." The Wild Zero soundtrack, though often muffled in the mix because, well, there is just always so much going on, is jammed with garage and punk rockers like the Oblivians, the Phantom Surfers, and of course the mighty Guitar Wolf. There's a lot of devotion in general in Wild Zero to rock 'n' roll, with lines like "ACE! There are no boundaries in Rock 'n' Roll! Believe in Rock 'n' Roll!" and "I swear by my leather jacket and by Rock 'n' Roll ... I swear ... I love you." Even the person doing the subtitles always capitalizes Rock 'n' Roll. The zombie side is the usual—they move slow but relentless and have to be taken out by the head. As for the far out sci-fi bid, it pulls a few effective rabbits out of its hat from Liquid Sky and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but the storyline doesn't take up much of the screen time. Still, Wild Zero manages to put a few audacious twists on everything it touches and it is thrashing and grasping wildly. It really is a movie that hits like wut TF DID. I. just. see? Extremely low budget. Fast cars. Motorcycles. Gore among the undead. High-cuffed blue jeans and Elvis hair. Trans beauty. It weighs in refreshingly at the altar of rock 'n' roll and it never stops being weird, fun, and devotional.

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