Let in Visitor Q

Takashi Miike’s 2001 film “Visitor Q” is what many people would consider a difficult and uncomfortable film to watch, however, I welcome such films. Films such as “Visitor Q” challenge the audience to shun the conformity found in most Hollywood films. Strange people such as myself gravitate towards films like this, not because of the content or what the film may be about, but rather, because we know we are in for a different film experience from what is common. Let me stress that though “Visitor Q” would be considered an extreme film with scenes that would shock many, it is not because of such scenes that I appreciate such films. Take a film like David Mamet’s “Oleanna.” Just take it. There you go. Trust me, it is great! Another film that is not shocking or disturbing, but is unique is “The Music of Chance.” It does not follow the normal conventions of filmmaking, yet it manages to tell a concise, coherent story through the usage of a great script and wonderful performances.

Films that are unique and offer the audience something different are the kinds of films to which I gravitate, it does not matter to me what genre a particular film falls into. “Jim, the World’s Greatest” is a normal film about a young adult which does not pander to the audience. It does not treat the audience as simpletons who need to see stuff get exploded or see kids throwing up on an out of control Ferris wheel. The unique films of which I write are oftentimes very smart films as well. “Visitor Q” offers up the story, which we learn throughout the course of the film, of a young man who ends up staying at the home of a man, his wife, and their son. Nobody knows exactly who this young man is or what he wants. He just is there. This may sound familiar, as the 2010 film “Hesher,” follows a similar premise. This is the only similarity between the two films. “Hesher” is a great film, but it does not go to the bizarre lengths that one finds in “Visitor Q.” I do not want to give too much away, as “Visitor Q” can be obtained from Netflix and many of the strange elements of the film are key ingredients of the story. Basically, through a series of strange events, which are graphically depicted in the film, a family goes from very dysfunctional to a more nurturing, caring family. It is like “Hesher,” but a lot more extreme, graphic, scattological, and not lactose-intolerant. Miike’s film does appear to have a point as you may understand once it concludes. I believe I understood the point of the film. This strange man, known only as the visitor (Kazushi Watanabe) ends up in a family’s home, witnesses and does some bizarre things, and in the end, somehow assists the family into a better life for themselves. Explaining better than that would begin to give too much away and I prefer not to do that should anyone reading this may seek out this film. The only other Takashi Miike film I have seen is the 1999 film, “Audition.” “Visitor Q” is stranger than “Audition,” so if that was too much for you to take, you may want to skip “Visitor Q.” However, if you enjoy challenging films that are not afraid to be graphic, while still able to tell an interesting story and not just being gross for the sake of being gross, then queue up “Visitor Q.” Let him stay for awhile. If you don’t like him, you can always kick him out. He will not say much about it.