Watch Violence Voyager

Violence Voyager is a Japanese animated film that was released in 2018. The film is directed by Ujicha and stars the voices of Saki Fujita, Kellen Goff, and Nao Hanai. The movie revolves around two young friends, Bobby and Akkun, who stumble upon a mysterious theme park, the titular Violence Voyager. From the very beginning, the film sets up an ominous atmosphere as Bobby and Akkun venture into the forbidden woods leading to the theme park, a place that seems to have no visitors for years. The overall aesthetic of the film is centered around a traditional 1970’s 8mm film or vintage anime style, which adds up to the eerie ambiance. The colors are desaturated, and the character designs have a simplistic feel that works perfectly with the plot.

Once they reach the gates of Violence Voyager, they are greeted by a small robot who resembles a toy. He welcomes them to the park, warning them that it'll be an unforgettable experience, but there's always a catch. It's easy to understand that something weird is happening in the place, even with no dialogue or characters on-screen by the way the environment itself behaves.

Violence Voyager gradually reveals itself to be no theme park, but something much more sinister. The ride is a harrowing, and downright scary experience that unfolds in the most unpredictable and imaginative ways, which after the first time, will have the view recognize the horror of what is happening.

The visuals are fantastic, as the director Ujicha combines live-action model sets with hand-drawn animations. The result is a unique and unforgettable scenario that adds an unsettling tone to the film that lasts throughout. The animation is crude but effective, and the film uses this medium to its advantage to create a sense of dread and unease that is not often seen in horror animations.

One of the film's most remarkable aspects is how it slowly unravels the mystery of the park's inner workings. The story never lags, despite not knowing what is going on, the next twist is always around the corner. The film takes the theme of science fiction horror and injects it with a unique and fantastical take that defies easy categorization.

The sound design deserves special mention. Every sound effect is crisp and perfectly in sync with the action happening on the screen. Violence Voyager has its original musical score, which is appropriately eerie and unsettling. The voice acting is also commendable, creating a sense of empathy and dread throughout the film.

The story progression of the film is a smart feature. As Bobby and Akkun move from one section of the park to another, they change themselves, and the people they encounter become dark reflections of themselves. The creators use this to explore ideas of innocence, guilt, and horror to great effect. This add-on layer to the narrative is the factor that raises Violence Voyager above most monster movies that depend only on actual violence.

One minor negative of the movie is it tends to drag a little bit towards the end, but it is not enough to ruin what the film does right.

In conclusion, Violence Voyager is a one-of-a-kind film that you won't be able to forget easily. Its particular blend of animation, sound design, and storytelling make it a must-watch for horror aficionados or someone looking for something unique and thrilling. The film's twisted universe stays with you long after it's over, leaving you with haunting imagery and thoughts. If you're looking for a horror movie that takes a different route than most, Violence Voyager is an excellent choice.

Violence Voyager is a 2019 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.