We’re back and we’re moist. Between all this chicken custard, cow spittle and milk, Gozu has left us downright sodden. We’ve seen films use 3D, moving seats, and even subsonic vibrations to enhance the viewing experience, but this is going too far. Maybe we can scrape some of the muck off using this convenient ladle. Hang on… Why is the handle warm?

Main Topic: Gozu

Following last episode’s discussion of gangsters in Call of Cthulhu, we now look at probably the strangest gangster film ever made. Gozu is a 2003 production from legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike, and it defies description. It may not precisely be a horror film, but it will probably make you more uncomfortable than most horrors. As in so many of his films, Miike sets out to shock and transgress, but does so here in a playful, surreal manner. There is some weird sexual content in the film, so be warned that the discussion may be more explicit than usual.

Once again, Matt is absent from this episode. COVID hit him hard and he has taken some time to recover. Happily, he is doing much better now and will be back for our next episode. Once again, we have called upon our good friend Dirk the Dice to stand in for Matt. You will know Dirk from his marvellous podcast The Grognard Files, as well as our live recording of “The Necropolis”, with How We Roll.

Links

Things we mention in this episode include:

• The Grognard Files podcast
• Gozu (2003)
• Takashi Miike
• Audition (1999)
• Audition by Ryū Murakami
• Visitor Q (2001)
• Ichi the Killer (2001)
• The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)
• One Missed Call (2003)
• Full Metal Yakuza (1997)
• Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
• Gozu urban myth
• The King in Yellow
• Keaw Yed City
• Masters of Horror
• “Imprint” (2006)
• Sakichi Sato
• A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
• Ring (1998)
• Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
• Chawanmushi – savoury Japanese custard

• Chekhov’s gun
• The Wicker Man (1973)
• The House That Dripped Blood (1971)
• Red bean rice
• Fukushi Masaichi – Yakuza skin collector
• The Two-Headed Serpent
• Givenchy lingerie
• Brother (2000)
• Vagina dentata
• Robert Aickman
• Luis Buñuel
• Soluble Fish by André Breton
• Charlie Higson
• The Fast Show
• King of the Ants by Charlie Higson
• Stuart Gordon
• King of the Ants (2003)
• Getting Rid of Mister Kitchen by Charlie Higson
• Japanese urban legends
• The Lovecraft Tapes

News

The Canterville Ghost special episodes

As we mentioned last episode, our good friend Mike Perceval-Maxwell organised a spirited reading of Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” on the Good Friends Discord server. This followed the success of last year’s reading of “A Christmas Carol”. Once again, this was a full-cast reading, with Mike joined by Dom Allen, John Casey, Scott Dorward, Rina Haenze and Sue Savage. You can now find recordings of all three parts on the Good Friends podcast feed or on this very server.

The Blasphemous Tome issue 8

You still just have time to secure a printed copy of issue 8 of The Blasphemous Tome. This is the semi-annual fanzine we produce for our Patreon backers. Anyone backing us by the end of December 2021 at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a print-on-demand copy at cost, and backers at the $5 level or higher will receive a copy printed and signed by the Good Friends. This latest issue features an all-new modern-day scenario by Scott, called “Night Bus”, that leans into the weirder side of the Mythos.

As we mention in the news segment, Matt’s recent bout of COVID has knocked back our production schedule by a few weeks. The Christmas card is going out around now and the Tome will follow in early January. Thank you for your patience in what has been a rough month.

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