Prisoners of the Ghostland (Patriot Pictures/XYZ Films) is a wild and weird film directed by Sion Sono filmed entirely on location in Japan. Most of the film was in English and Japanese with English subtitles so it was very easy to understand and follow along. So far on its first run, it scored 65% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53% on Metacritic.
The film is produced by Laura Rister, Michael Mendelsohn, Ko Mori, Reza Sixo Safai, and Nate Bolotin and written by Aaron Hendry; Reza Sixo Safai. It stars Nicolas Cage as ‘Hero’. Sofia Boutella as Bernice, Bill Moseley as The Governor, and Nick Cassevetes as ‘Psycho;’ featuring Imogen Poots and Teresa Ruiz.
The storyline follows a bank robber (Nicolas Cage) who robs a Japanese bank in a frontier city in a Samurai town with his partner (Nick Cassavetes) who is later killed but Cage as ‘Hero’ survives who is eventually jailed and released on a freedom proposition by the Governor played by Bill Moseley that if he returns his adopted granddaughter, Bernice who disappeared mysteriously into the ‘Ghostland’ while traveling on a joyride with her friends he will gain his freedom from jail. If he fails to rescue Bernice; his leather suit will self-destruct in five days.
Nicolas Cage calls it “the wildest script’ he’s ever read” but it was changed to ‘”The Wildest Film he’s ever made.” That promotion line stuck and fared far better. The script was sent to him and he was on board with being cast in the film.
I was actually very surprised by the film. I wasn’t expecting it to be worth watching but it definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s very entertaining and never boring. It’s a fun, wild roller coaster ride that comes to life like at Disneyland! As the critics’ comments state in the beginning of the trailer, it’s a ‘”Battle Royale” and ‘”a total gonzo cinematic experience.” I couldn’t agree more! My article on the trailer is here.
Here’s a YouTube clip of the film:
The wonders of Japanese cinema! See the film for yourself and be the judge!