Normally, when reviewing any property of any kind, I usually spend a good opening paragraph making light humor as an attempt to draw the reader into the material that I am about to discuss. This is a common technique that many writers use all over the internet and in print journalism, because it allows the reader to become more relaxed and ready for whatever type of odd information or opinions we might then impart onto them.
For Godkiller, I must say – I really am at a loss of words. Godkiller essentially stabbed me in the gut and has left me quite speechless.
However, I will do my best. Take a look behind the cut for one of the most unique cinematic experiences I’ve ever partaken in.
What is Godkiller: Walk Among Us? For lack of terms, Godkiller is the “original” idea behind the motion comic phenomenon. It is a comic book that is quite literally brought to life with moving pictures and voice over, based on the pages and layouts of what is/was a comic book. Created before (but released after) the Watchmen motion comic and Marvel’s various entries into the motion comic medium, Godkiller gives the more down to paper idea, created from the bottom up with the “motion comic” being the final idea, rather than adapting already completed art.
Godkiller takes place in a world that makes dystopia seem rather friendly. It makes Mos Eisley seem like a reasonable place for a vacation. This is a world of souls beyond saving, and most of the habits know this. Split into two halves, one of which is is filled with prostitutes who double as organ harvesters, the tale is not off to a pleasant start. The story revolves around Tommy, an orphan out to find a heart for his doomed sister Lucy. Put through a horrific path including, for lack of a better term here, rape, Tommy bands together with the most unlikely of heroes: an ex-prostitute, an old man who drinks blood and has a very unusual way of having visions, and a self centered bounty hunter. All of this is for them to find a somewhat mythical device which is held by one of the most deadliest beings on the planet.
Godkiller is a rather sick movie. In all honesty, it’s one of the most deranged things I’ve ever seen. Matt Pizzolo, the writer and the director of the film, has a very odd and twisted imagination. I’m reminded of the first time I saw the movie Saw and thought, “Woah, these guys are messed.” Pizzolo brings it to a much deeper level. So to say Godkiller isn’t for the faint of heart is to put it lightly. The film is unrated because it’s contents include “ultra violence,” and this is very true. The film features a good helping of blood and bodily holes that have a need to be filled with various gross things, and it doesn’t shy away from any of it. Despite it being a “cartoon,” it still evokes some quite uncomfortable sequences.
The surprising element to me here is that, for the most part, the voice talent of this film can actually act. Justin Pierre plays the main character, but he also sings for the very upbeat and peppy band Motion City Soundtrack. I would hardly imagine that he could actually convey some form of legitimate emotion in his voice for the purpose of acting, but lo and behold he does. He screams, he cries, and he drives Tommy’s horrific plight home. Other appearances by familiar voices like Bill Mosley add to the dark ambience of the film, and with Davey Havok providing the creepy voice of the film’s antagonist, you have a good match. He certainly brings a heavy dose of ultimate creep to the role. Oddly enough, he’s not the most disturbing role in the film.
The most impressive aspect of the film is it’s mythology. In my mind what makes a good story is a well thought out tale from top to bottom. These can include classic story telling tropes of course, and Godkiller is full of them. With it’s ragtag group of heroes, it’s own form of magic to operate with, and an obviously destiny to fulfill, Godkiller sets itself up in a very similar fashion to Star Wars. In fact, there are many parallels to Star Wars to be made here, with an evil Empire type organization running the world and the best character being a loose canon bounty hunter found in a bar. Walk Among Us is very clearly only the first part of a longer tale, but it ends itself a very clear way to tell you that the story is only just beginning – and what makes it so aching is that it does so right as the story is beginning to take it’s ultimate form.
I’ve honestly never seen anything quite like Godkiller before. Built from the ground up, inventing as they go, Godkiller certainly is an inventive film and interesting notion. It challenges conventional cinema, both live action and animated. It also is clear that, had this been a live action film, it would have essentially been unfilmable, because I can only imagine how many laws would be broken based on the torture placed on the characters. It’s an experience in and of itself watching the film. With technology today being quite different from what it used to be in the realm of the “motion comic”, I can only imagine how much more intense the next film is going to look. And, given Pizzolo’s ideas here, how freaking disturbing it’ll be.
To summarize, Godkiller: Walk Among Us is a disgusting and filthy good time. It will push your limits for conventional cinema as well as your tolerance levels for gore and things of the dark nature. Watch at your own risk.
