Review: Cicada Man??? - "The Sound of Summer" (2022)

Background:

I unfortunately could not find too much about the background of the movie. I was able to find some basic details. For example, Director "Guy" makes his full length directorial debut after a series of short horror films.

Year: 2022 (released via Unearthed Films June 13, 2023)

Director: Guy

Genre: Japanese Exploitation, B-Movie Horror, Japanese Independent Horror

Plot:

In the relentless heat of the grueling summer, temperatures soar to blistering levels as cicadas emerge to sing their ear-shattering song. Months of continued exposure is enough to make anyone start to feel a little off. Anyone, that is, except that oddity the locals call 'the Cicada Man'. Who is that strange man and why is he always walking around with boxes full of live cicadas? More important, what does he do with them? As the heat starts to get to our heroine, and her sanity depletes, real life and delusion begin to mix. Her darkest nightmares seep into our world and she fears the Cicada Man has planted his swarm of insects inside her. She must get them out - at all costs. Thus begins her downward spiral into extreme paranoia and self-mutilation. She just needs to make it through the summer. (From IMDB)

My Thoughts:

I generally really enjoy Japanese Body Horror or Exploitation films. However, the intro song should have been a red flag as to the goofiness of the movie. It's a silly ride that tries to be accepted into the cool kids club (Tumbling Doll of Flesh, My Red Guts, American Guinea Pig, etc). However, even with some pretty cool (yet very brief) and gory practical effects, it fails to hit as hard.

The build up did remind me of the first Terrifier (2016) as we are first introduced to Art the Clown, but falls flat when the antagonist (The Cicada Man) is as threatening as a stray cat in comparison. The scenes of self-mutilation are exciting at first but quickly fizzles with low impact shock tropes.

With all of that being said, there are redeeming qualities to this movie.

1. It is shot very well. Upon first glance you would assume the budget was much larger than it was (I have no idea what that number is) with how well it looks on the screen.

2. I genuinely laughed out loud on multiple occasions. I don't think this movie was intended to be a comedy but there are a few scenes that will make you laugh (IE the final transformation).

3. Some pretty decent sequences of gore.

In summary, compared to many other great and revolting horror movies, this one falls flat. I do believe though that director "Guy" has a very strong potential to be one of the greats. All this movie was lacking was a domineering/gut-wrenching antagonist and more attention to the gore (that's what most of us are looking for in these types of films anyways).

• Would Watch Again? Maybe, if not only to show another friend.

• Would Recommend? Give it a shot! My word is not the law, it just wasn't my favorite.

• Watch With Kids? Nah, not a "family friendly" scary flick.

• Favorite Moment? The intro song (sounded hilarious)