Grand Guignol – Movie Review & Film Summary

Itsuki is a teenager who recently arrived at Christoph Private Conservatory. This academy is located on a remote island and has little contact with the outside world. It accepts delinquent students who have caused trouble in other schools. Despite his enrollment, Itsuki seems polite and innocent. He doesn't behave like a typical troublemaker.

Upon his arrival, Itsuki meets a group of students from the Grand Guignol Study Club. Roy is the club leader, while the members include Teshio, Kenta, and Hideto. Another member, Hideto, has gone missing recently. The club is fascinated with Grand Guignol, a type of horror cinema from France. The members put on stage plays and reenact gruesome scenes. Itsuki's teacher, Yukimi, encourages him to join the extracurricular activity.

Itsuki must live in a dormitory with his classmates. He also meets the other staff members. There's Otomo, a mysterious teacher who recently joined the academy. Mizukami, the flirty chef, has a secret relationship with one of the students. In addition, Nikishi is the silent custodian who wanders around campus with a scary demeanour. As Itsuki adjusts to his new surroundings, he feels unsettled by the ominous atmosphere. Everyone he encounters seems odd, as if they harbour a dark secret.

As a scaredy-cat, I shy away from the horror genre. I'm uncomfortable with films depicting blood, gore, or graphic violence. My uneasiness prevents me from enjoying Grand Guignol, which relies heavily on savage imagery to evoke shock and fear. I'm disturbed by many grotesque visuals, including beheadings, skin peeling, and body mutilation. The goriness recurs throughout the film, escalating in gruesome brutality. Watching the characters get tortured is not my idea of entertainment.

Maybe horror buffs would respond better to Grand Guignol, but I don't see the appeal. The movie seems more preoccupied with cheap thrills and shock scares than telling a sophisticated story. It barely justifies why strange events occur at the creepy school. While there's a vague explanation, the superficial plot doesn't have a lot of depth. Likewise, the characters receive no development. Each individual only has one defining trait that determines their identity. They solely exist to get killed off one by one. Not even the protagonist stands out with his bland, generic personality.

Grand Guignol teases physical intimacy among the male characters. To their credit, the actors exchange gutsy kisses and don't hold back during kinky sex scenes. Yet, the circumstances are hardly sexy. Getting disembowelled and murdered doesn't set the mood for a seductive atmosphere. Also, the skinship only occupies a small fraction of the film. You must sit through numerous non-romantic encounters before there's a glimpse of affection. The BL content feels gimmicky, like a tacked-on marketing ploy to get fans interested in this homoerotic horror movie.

The lead (Rio Komiya) dazzled me in Eternal Yesterday with his radiant charisma. By comparison, he portrays a meek protagonist in Grand Guignol, not shining as much. Besides the last few scenes, the unremarkable role doesn't showcase his talents. I also recognize several supporting actors and enjoy the novelty of these Japanese BL stars interacting in the same universe. To my surprise, their romantic exchanges are more passionate than expected. Unlike the tame kisses in other dramas, the performers make out with their costars fiercely in Grand Guignol.

Grand Guignol reminds me of David DeCoteau's low-budget homoerotic horror flicks. His movies are notorious for showcasing hot young studs in terrible plots. Nobody can say with a straight face that his trashy films are cinematic masterpieces. Yet, they hold an undeniable charm for those who appreciate campy entertainment. Grand Guignol shares a similar cult appeal, enticing viewers with its blend of horror and sexuality in an over-the-top package. Not everyone will understand the allure, but some will enjoy the unique and unconventional storytelling experience.

In its final stretch, Grand Guignol loses all inhibition and unleashes a storm of wild chaos. The narrative becomes increasingly hectic, from twisted revelations to gratuitous bloodshed. As the plot deteriorates into anarchy, nothing makes sense anymore. On the one hand, the bizarre ending is morbidly amusing. On the other hand, this resolution doesn't feel particularly meaningful. Grand Guignol never rises above a lowbrow horror film with senseless deaths, cliched tropes, and little substance. Sadly, it feels like a waste of my time beyond a few juicy BL moments.