I’m supposed to be on medical leave from the website, but not everyone in Team FCS has come to acquaint themselves as much with Gun Woman and Karate Kill director Kurando Mitsutake’s work as I have in the last five years just about. Alas, this is me taking one for the team to help present the official trailer for Mitsutake’s Giallo-inspired Japanese horror, Maniac Driver.
Contributing to the narrative is lead actor Tomoki Kimura, starring in the title role as a Tokyo cabbie whose descent into madness following a personal tragedy has since rendered him unfulfilled and eager for a worthy sacrifice to satisfy his own need for blood, and possibly death. Pre-production began in 2019 with principal photography ensuing in the following year, ultimately left to survive the pandemic last year as post-production temporary slowed before finally finishing up in time for its premiere at Yubari Fanta Fest Online this year, and reviews are already circulating as well.
Also starring are Iori Furukawa, Saryu Usui, Ayumi Kimino, Kiichi Sonobe, Yoshiki Kondo, Keisaku Kimura and Ai Sayama, and with a special appearance by Yota Kawase. Say what you will about the trailer below – the nudity lasts about as brief as a blur and the rest of the imagery is as luminous, splashy and colorful (and for that matter, bloody) as you might imagine for a film with visuals harkening back to the 60’s and 70’s. Kudos to Kurando for flying the old school flag here some for the horror fans on this one!…
Alrighty, I’m off.
