A gory and brutal sad tale
So this movie has a pretty high level of gore and brutality in it. High school students being placed under a spell that forces them to kill themselves in the most gruesome of ways. If gore and extreme violence aren't your thing then don't watch this movie. However, if you can stomach all of that then what's in store for you is a sad and lonely tale. This movie has great suspense and characters that are likable. In a lot of these kinds of movies there are a bunch of throwaway characters who you don't really care about yet there should be a handful of characters that really charm you. This movie does that well. It will have you begging for them to be spared. Plus this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat as you join the students on their ride to survival and as they try to find answers. Watch this movie if you want a thrilling and exciting horror movie with some depth.Was this review helpful to you?
“Okay, but why?” and “Okay, but how?”
Were the questions I kept asking as I was watching, and I did not receive answers for the majority of them. The only things the movie had to offer were gore and the performances. The writing was nonexistent just like the logic behind the rules of the curse/hypnosis.There were maybe 2 decent characters, but none that truly caught my attention. Most of the teens were either boring and just there to die in creative ways, or borderline psychos, and the laughable attempt to make it seem like “everyone would act this way in a similar situation” just made me laugh. There is a difference between doing awful things for survival, and doing awful things for survival while also laughing and enjoying yourself.
The ending is just dumb. Makes sense in the most shallow perspective, but when you start to think about it even slightly, it all falls apart.
Overall, they should have used some of the money from special and practical effects of gore to hire a better writer. Unless the source material is also this dumb, then there is no hope.
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It's a pretty self-explanatory concept - a bunch of kids are locked in school where they must do their best to survive.
Yes, it's relatively predictable, and doesn't necessarily offer something new that hasn't already been done, but it's still interesting and a fun, mindless watch. Of course despite this, there is a lot of gore. So be mindful if it's not your thing. Especially since most of the deaths are by suicide.
The cast did a good job, with some actors playing roles I had never seen them do, which was refreshing to watch. You don't find out too much about the characters' backstory, but their individual personalities are made quite clear, and you find yourself aligning with certain characters and rooting for them.
Definitely something to give a try if you're interested in this trope/genre and like the actors.
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This review may contain spoilers
⚠️ Content WarningBefore anything else: this film contains graphic scenes involving death, suicide, and blood. The depictions are explicit and repeated throughout the movie. If you are sensitive to gore or themes of self-harm, this may be deeply triggering. Please approach with caution.
Plot**
The film opens on what should be an ordinary end-of-term school day. A student brings a DVD to class and plays it for everyone. What begins as a strange montage of chaotic images and distorted sound quickly takes a horrifying turn. At the end of the video, the same student suddenly jumps out of the classroom window to their death.
The class is left traumatized but the nightmare is only beginning. Their teacher informs them that they have been hypnotized. The DVD contained **100 hidden signals**, each capable of triggering them to commit suicide. In order to survive, they must identify and neutralize all 100 signals before they activate. From this moment onward, the film transforms into a psychological survival game.
The movie strongly echoes the survival chaos of **Battle Royale** and the high-stakes absurdity of **As the Gods Will**. Adapted from a manga, it carries that signature intensity exaggerated stakes, rapid escalation, and stylized brutality.
Japan has a long history of producing compelling survival thrillers, and this film continues that tradition. It blends psychological horror with graphic physical violence, creating an atmosphere that feels both frantic and triggering! However, this is not subtle horror. It is loud, shocking, and intentionally disturbing.
The “100 signals” concept allows the film to explore multiple forms of death, and it does so in graphic detail. The gore is not implied, it is shown. Blood is frequent, and the suicide scenes are explicit.
For viewers who enjoy extreme survival narratives, this may heighten the intensity and realism. For others, it may feel overwhelming or excessive. This is not casual viewing!!!!
Despite the heavy material, the cast delivers strong performances. The emotional panic, confusion, and desperation feel believable, grounding the more extreme aspects of the plot.
A standout performance comes from **Kanna Hashimoto**. With every role I see her in, she becomes more impressive.
One of the most surprising elements of the film is its ending. As the credits rolled, I found myself unable to turn it off — completely absorbed by the theme song. **Carry On** by **YukaDD** is powerful, catchy, and thematically fitting. It contrasts beautifully with the intensity of the film, leaving a lingering emotional impression. I added it to my playlist immediately and it has stayed there ever since.
This film is gripping, intense, and unapologetically graphic. It will strongly appeal to fans of survival manga adaptations and high-stakes psychological thrillers. At the same time, it is not for everyone. The gore and repeated suicide depictions may make it a difficult watch for some. If you can handle extreme survival horror, you may find this film compelling and memorable. If not, consider this your warning.
The only reason I am not scoring this 10/10 it is because of the pace and how everything went by so fast! I wish this was a drama it would have give more time to explore the feelings, grief and the horror.
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