Constantlyonthehuntandsufferingfromhallucinationsthatdrivehisviolentnature,anunnamedmaniscapturingwomenandsavagelybeatingthemtodeathMeanwhile,awomanisluringmenintoaviolentend,bywayofherknifeDrivenbythesameforcetomaketheoppositesexsuffer,thekillers’fatesintertwineThetwomustfaceoffinabattletothedeath,inwhichtheyareforcedtorevealthehorribletruthbehindtheiraddictiontomurder
Brutaltakesaninterestingapproachtoitsvisuals,drawingheavyinfluencefromWesternGrindhousefilms,usingafiltertomakethefootageappeargrainy,damaged,andwithlightandcolorfluctuationsUnfortunately,thevisualstylingendsupfeelingmisguided,asotherthanapplyingthefilteritdoesnotimitateanyotheraspectsoftheGrindhousegenreDespitetryingtodirtyupthefilm,itisapparentitwasshotondigitalThecinematographyisalsoastepabovemostGrindhouseproductions,withTakashiHiroseprovinghehastalentbehindthecameraExteriorshotstothosetakingplaceinsmallspacesareallcompetentlyframed,lit,andtransitionwellThedecisiontoaddaneffectontopoftheworkhurtsthefilm’simageryandevengivesasenseofdesperationtotrytocaptureacertaintypeofnostalgiawiththeaudience,insteadofrelyingonitsownstrengthsItisunfortunatewhenonecreativechoicecanhurtaproductionsomuch
ThestoryofBrutalissimplebuteffective,itdoesattemptsomesortofsocialcommentaryabouttheviolentnatureofmenandwomen,butitdoesnotofferenoughdepthintothesubjecttojustifytheamountofviolenceondisplayThefilmdoesendonastrongnotewithaninterestingtwist,witharevealthatisboundtogrosssomeout,whilegivingothersachuckleInspiteofitssimplenature,thosewhoenjoyfilmsthatmakethemsomewhatuncomfortableandenjoythechallengeofgettingthroughsomeultraviolence,Brutalposesafunandentertainingchallengeinthatregard
