On the one hand, the premise is very promising, recalling international classics from the 70s. On the other hand, even within the first five minutes we're greeted (and not for the last time) with small choices of stylization (e.g., a sparkling effect on metal, and on the title card) that raise a skeptical eyebrow. On the one hand, we're readily treated to absolutely outstanding, creepy production design and art direction, readily inviting an unsettling atmosphere that evokes Christophe Gans' 'Silent Hill,' or the essential masterpieces of John Carpenter. On the other hand, Fukasaku Kenta's direction quickly tends to feel gauchely forthright if not also overcharged, with a further apparent predilection for stylization, that (a) does not pair well with image quality and production values that are intermittently and irregularly bare-faced and glaring, and which (b) run contrary to the atmosphere the picture otherwise aims to conjure. Within a fraction of the total runtime (one-sixth) 'X-cross' begins to feel like a mixed bag, and we must hope that the scales will come to tip in a favorable direction.
Unfortunately, I don't think the situation improves. I don't know where the responsibility lies, though I suspect it's split between director Fukasaku, writer Oishi Tetsuya, the source material of Joko Nobuyuki, and producer Kondo Masatake. The fact is that what sounds like a fantastic concept, and which boasts some fine contributions in various capacities, is less than fully convincing. In all regards - the plot and its development, scene writing, dialogue, characterizations - the writing is so blunt and straightforward as to be gawky, ham-fisted, and off-putting. There is no subtlety or nuance in the conjuration, seemingly stemming from the novel as much as the adaptation, and frankly, despite good ideas the storytelling is just flimsy. Blame the writing as one will, however, Fukasaku's direction doesn't do much to impress either. Elements and moments that should be striking and delightfully twisted - a character being startled, a strange village elder, a distinct sound effect - are presented in such a curt and flat manner that all their power is forfeit. Even the climax struggles heavily. Furthermore, his direction indeed remains consistently overzealous, and tactless, and the embellishments of stylization continue to plague the proceedings, too. All the feature needed to do was to tell a story, but it goes overboard in so many ways trying to be Extra, and in so doing, it stumbles.
Ike Yoshihiro's music tends to suffer from these same problems. So do the costume design, hair, and makeup. Even the shot composition, cinematography, editing, and sound design come across as overwrought, as if the folks involved thought themselves to be more clever than they are. All aspects may bear some good ideas, by all means, but these only get us so far when the execution leaves so much to be desired. Granted, it's not all bad. I maintain that the production design and art direction are strong, and the filming locations are splendid. Even the lighting is swell in helping to summon that atmosphere, and many practical effects and stunts are very good. But too much of the acting does just as much to earn one's ire, and the gaudy flourishes that are so profuse in these ninety minutes wear thin swiftly. Case in point, someone thought very highly of themselves as the plot development adopts a "non-linear" structure - but here that notion is terribly cheapened with rapid rewinding or fast-forwarding of scenes we've already watched so as to shift to concurrent events focusing on another character from the point of where a given scene left off.
Further consider some extra over-the-top dialogue, props, or scenes, and one character who seems to be present for no particular reason at all, and the esteem one may be inclined to bestow drops significantly over time. I believe there was real potential in the concept, but some ideas clash - sometimes trying to be an earnest horror-thriller, sometimes unabashedly leaning into the approach of a pure fun-loving romp - and some are just plain bad. The definite strengths are all too few, the possible strengths are highly variable, and the shortcomings and faults are entirely too numerous. Part of me feels bad about being so critical, but time and again as I watched I recognized dubious creative choices that robbed the movie of all its impact, and the end product is ultimately just rather vexing and tiresome. There are far worse ways to spend one's time, certainly, yet with so much else that we could be watching in the first place, be it wild lark or chilling thriller, why would we spend our time here? I'm glad for those who enjoy 'X-cross' more than I do, but I somewhat wish I had spent ninety minutes more wisely.
