Mamoru Oshii is a lot stranger than I gave him credit for. Red Spectacles is the sort of production you would expect from the likes of David Lynch or Takashi Miike. Oshii, for me at least, would be the last person I could think of that could pull of such a mad cap, weird and insane piece of film.

Opening with three friends who are part of the Keboros police squad, also known as the Watchdogs of Hell, Koichi, Ao, and Madori have escaped to a garage and are being chased by the Metro police with the orders of shoot to kill. The reason for this order, is that they have escaped and betrayed their colleagues in not disarming, after being told that their methods have become too diligent in their execution. In other words, a public outcry of heavy handedness is preached, and the Keberos are to take the fall.

With AO and Madori injured, the two promise to wait for Koichi while he escapes to safety in the awaiting chopper. Koichi promises to return, but it’s likely their final farewell. This is when things go a little far beyond the norm.

Koichi returns three years later, only to find the world he once knew is now under strict martial law. Where eating noodles standing up, is considered a crime, and men in macs eat their noodles standing up in dark alley ways. It’s amusing and strange, but this is only the tip of the iceberg of insanity that is displayed.

Oshii’s use of unconventional and unorthodox methods of both actors, the sets and the plot of the film would almost have you believe that he was on a trip of euphoria from some indeginous drug found high up in the mountains of a native reserve. It’s only as the film ends that you start to understand what’s going on, but even then, the final scenes are equally strange and bizarre.

Red Spectacles is a film that will reward those that persevere with the film, and are willing to accept that unconvetional will be the norm, and the norm thrown straight out of the window. The main plot concerns Koichi’s return, and his attempts to keep his promise of returning, only to find everyone is betraying him, and he is continually being caught and interrogated with cold water and alcohol. His capture proceeds spouts of explosive and painful diharrea resulting in some seriously strange scenes, and equally abstract music from Kenji Kawai.

Part thriller, part mystery and part acid trip, the film has moments where characters will run on the spot, with ever changing backgrounds, scenes changes, spotlights and other more theatrical elements to demonstrate escape, or extravagant action. Exaggeration, and eccentrincity play a huge part in the demonstration of events, none of which makes any real sense. One scene in particular is absolutely brilliant, but completely mad where Koichi takes out about two dozen soldiers in hilarious ways, all totally unrealtistic but fitting in with path of insanity.

Acting throughout is wonderful and enjoyable, with the lead playing Koichi and is strange mannerism being really entertaining. As is the head of the special investigations department chasing Koichi, as he demonstrates his evil maniacal laugh and camp dancing. Oh yes, there’s dancing in this film, at the strangest of times, such as during a chase or an escape. There’s random dancing, miming and odd theatrics.

As the first part of his trilogy of films around the future police force of Japan, the Keberos, it will be interesting to see if any of the following films match up to the brillance of Red Spectacles, though I expect this not to be the case.

This is not a particularly simple film to follow, nor will fit the tastes of the vast majority, most may find the events to random and confusing, and bore them especially with the monochrome, noir style filming that is done for most of the feature, but it’s definitely a film I’ve enjoyed and almost two decades after the fact.

Verdict: Completely insane, but those who like a film that offers something wildly different will not be disappointed by this