Hell to Pay

Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2014) is a funny movie. The basic plot has been done before: documentary filmmakers start following criminals, and lose track of their morals. But I don't think it's been done like this.

It features two yakuza gangs, and a little girl who has made a popular toothpaste ad with a catchy jingle. She is the daughter of one of the bosses, and the apple of her mother's eye. That mother is attacked by members of the other gang - and she pretty much kills them all, so that the little girl comes home to a kitchen drenched in blood. She reacts by finding the last remaining live gang member and making him play with her.

Meantime, a geeky gang of amateur filmmakers who call themselves "The Fuck Bombers" stop one of their productions to film some punks fighting. They befriend one of the punks, dress him as Bruce Lee and make him their action star.

Then, ten years pass. The Fuck Bombers are still total amateurs. The little girl is now grown up. Her mother will be getting out of prison soon (for the murders). Her father is trying to get her into a movie, her mother's dream for her. Then gang warfare breaks out. The girl breaks away with the help of a geeky guy who had a childhood crush on her toothpaste commercial persona. And he knows the Fuck Bombers. So the plan is or the Bombers to film the gang war, with the girl and the Bruce Lee know-off as stars.

So the last act is a massive bloody gang fight, with a film crew in the middle of things. Of course, it ends in tragedy - and comedy. There's a lot of comedy throughout the movie, as well as a certain amount of mayhem, and some satire. But while it's clear that the Bombers are idiots, this isn't quite a satire on media or art school types. It isn't exactly loving, either, unless I am missing something cross-cultural. It is just observing.

In conclusion, my favorite Bombers were the cute chubby nerd couple who are experts in hand-held and panning (on roller skates). I was very happy to see them get together.