MovieChat Forums > Masters of Horror (2005) Discussion > Imprint - Billy Drago - What...?!

Imprint - Billy Drago - What...?!

posted 17 years ago by sgfirecracker
41 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this movie last week and it was definitely disturbing. The torture scene and the aborted babies were gruesome. But can I just say (hopefully without pissing too many people off) that the one thing about the movie that was more disturbing than anything else was Billy Drago and his terrible acting?! I haven;t seen him in much, but for crying out loud, after that movie I will avoid any movie he has a big role in. He was SUPER over dramatic and I felt like I was watching a comedy with his laughable performance. BAD BAD BAD.

"You know, the Nazis had pieces of flair that they made the Jews wear."

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] pninson 17 years ago

I've seen Billy Drago in a couple of other films, so I figured that he was doing what the director asked him to do. Your point is well taken; however, I still found his performance annoying. I guess that means I didn't like what the director had in mind.

Overall I didn't like Imprint anyway because the torture scene goes on and on long after you've got the point. Drago's hysterics only made an unpleasant film more annoying.

There were some good things in the film but I like a little subtlety once in a while. Also, the overall tone of the picture was so thoroughly dark (without any glimmer of a positive element) that it was almost oppressive.

Oddly, I don't mind some of the gory scenes in other MoH episodes, I suppose because they have shock value and are of brief duration. The torture in Imprint just goes on too damn long to be watchable.

We report, you decide; but we decide what to report.

[–] perpetual-mind 13 years ago

I actually quite like your theory on the film. (and the acting)

I did pick up on the meaning, but didn't think to relate the two things together, though I did think his acting seemed out of place in parts.

Miike does seem to like ending a LOT of his films in that way, explaining that the events of the film are brought on by some kind of mental trauma or some other oddity.

Like his part for the "Three Extremes" films.

[–] allenalberson 10 years ago

I agree and if you have seen many Miike films you recognize the overacting, overly dramatic characters. like it or not this is definitely what the director was going for in the episode

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[–] MrsBuckyBarnes 9 years ago

if you have seen many Miike films you recognize the overacting, overly dramatic characters

very true, plus how is one to act in a situation like that? his character is physically and mentally exhausted, drunk, grieving and carrying a longstanding guilt about killing (and probably raping) his sister. in some ways i thought is performance was quite realistic as i should think anyone in the character's situation would be stilted one minute, emotionally expansive the next and generally behaving quite bizarrely.

[–] katalist420 17 years ago

Yeah IMPRINT was my fav episode out of both seasons, but Drago was pretty bad, although it didnt wreck the episode for. Still enojoyed it alot, sure they could have gotten someone better to do it, but ohh well.

[–] Navaros 17 years ago

Who's Billy Drago, the Ebeneezer Scrooge looking guy? If so, yeah, his acting was extremely terrible in a disturbing way. I don't believe the director would have told him: "Act like Ebenzeezer Scrooge, only be a pansy about it". So I think saying he was directed to badly act is a cop-out excuse.

Anyhow Imprint was total crap, gruesome for the sake of gruesome but with no artistic merit to back it up. It's fitting that it starred a crap actor, because everything else about it was also total crap too.

[–] azazel08 17 years ago

i am glad to see that somebody else got the point of "imprint". i was amazed to see the other people here hating on it just because they do not understand it. and if you think the movie is too dark, as was stated on this thread, then you should stay away from takashi miike because that is what he is good at. in fact you just shouldn't watch horror movies because the darkness is what makes them good.

[–] Darko_is_nimbus 17 years ago

I just watched this episode and it was awesome! I liked the way he acted it put more into the film. I dont know what you are complaining about.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] ditamydear 16 years ago

I think many of us are forgetting that Imprint is based on a book. And from what i saw in the extra's he stays pretty true to its story without changing much. So, i'm sure thats at least part of the reason why its a bit different than many of his other films. As for Drago, i believe that he was directed to "over" act. His film presence had to be at the same level as the other characters, who were all a little over the top. What we deem to be over acting seems to be pretty common in Japanese films (at least in my experience).

[–] toretorden 13 years ago

"there's usually a whimsical, absurd humour to his films"

When the hand showed up, I felt like I was watching a comedy. I've only seen some episodes from this series yet, but I felt that was the silliest thing so far. I also agree that the casting was pretty bad. Not just Billy, the whores too - and that funny little guy with the nose wound that just wouldn't heal.

[–] missadventures 16 years ago

'Anyhow Imprint was total crap, gruesome for the sake of gruesome but with no artistic merit to back it up.'

I find it amazing that you would say "no artistic merit" it is dark art. If you haven't seen his other works-and i take it you haven't- then you don't know his style and you shouldn't be watching it.
Go back to watching Little House on the Prairie.

***************************************************************
In every good girl, lies a bad girl waiting to escape. KiKi

[–] brownsugar1173 17 years ago

Yeah I agree the aborted babies were gross!and his acting wasn't that great!
"A movie a day keeps the doctor away!"

[–] elbouirmani 17 years ago

i actually liked him here, even though the acting seemed strange now and then.
imprint is definitely not the best of MoH series, but it was ok, could have been a lot better.

the episode had great cinematic, the overall story was good, it just needed more developing if you ask me.
the torture scene was faaaaaar too long; (i saw a little of the scene went to the bathroom to pis, washed my hands afterwards, said hello to my mother and came back, and it was still going on)

[–] brownsugar1173 17 years ago

Yeah it was a bit long wasn't it?
"A movie a day keeps the doctor away"

[–] brownsugar1173 17 years ago

Yeah it was a bit long wasn't it?
"A movie a day keeps the doctor away"

[–] xerves 16 years ago

well imprint was really a stupid episode. Miike was just trying to shock the audience with terrible, shocking things. and in my opinion, nothing was more shocking and terrible than the fact that Billy Drago was actually paid money for playing that role. lol

"When there's no more room in hell. The dead will take a number and wait their GODDAMN turn"

[–] iscream22 16 years ago

Ive seen imprint three times. Personally I think the interpreters (dialogue coaches) did the best they could and Takashi Miike just simply isnt used to directing in English. Take a look at Sukiyaki Western Django :) (although that one hottie near the beginning of Ichi spoke English well)

No disrespect to Miike though I thought Imprint was one of the best of the series. And im A HUGE fan of his work. Check these films below

Ichi The Killer
Gozu
Happiness of the Katikuris (twisted Japanese comedy musical)
One Missed Call (JAPANESE version, and just the 1st not the sequel)
Izo (soso not as good as it could have been but decent).
Dead Or Alive 2 and DOA Final (have nothing to do with each other, the 1st is its own seperate film too)

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[–] missadventures 16 years ago

Well maybe you can get drunk watching the commentary on the dvd then if you didnt like it so much. moron

***************************************************************
In every good girl, lies a bad girl waiting to escape. KiKi

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] loup_noir 16 years ago

Billy Drago really wasn't acting well. Not abysmal, but not quite where I would have expected either. His emotional outburst didn't seem authentic, neither for a sane person nor for someone going mad. It was just a bit too hammy, sorry. It was as if he was playing someone playing an outburst, not actually having one. Just sobbing and raising the volume of your voice isn't enough. Well, I figure he's been hired for his looks, not his excellency.

[–] sugarsaltmsg 16 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m7sk46CTD0

Hilarious. The only other thing I've ever seen him is Charmed, and his acting seems pretty consistent. I guess it's probably a little bit better in Charmed, though, only because there is something inherently sinister about Billy Drago's looks and voice, which suits his demonic role better than the strange "hero" he plays in Imprint.

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You're not the anti-Christ. You're only a malcontent who knows how to spell.

[–] Unfanboy 16 years ago

Keep in mind, Miike doesn't speak any english. Drago and Miike have a bit of a language bridge to cross from time to time and it's inevitable that somethings may be lost in translation or having to deal with cultural differences. I'm sure if I directed something with Japanese speaking actors or any non-native language, it wouldn't come out very good to those audiences who are obviously more familiar with their peoples behavior.

[–] pigeon_toucher 15 years ago

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[–] oxblood 14 years ago

Someone said, they thought he was over-acting on purpose in this. No. I cringed watching this performance too. Billy Drago has never been a great actor's actor. Drago's whole gimmick and schtick hinges on his cool and creepy looks and demeanor. Probably why Takahashi Miike hired him. He's best utilized in horror and genre movies usually as the villain or henchman. He's not a leading man type.

That being said, I still enjoy watching him perform when he's acting in the right environment. The X-Files episode "Theef" is a good Drago vehicle.

[–] unknown_soul278 13 years ago

Don't forget his mirror role as the demon of hope instead of fear. That's just his style.

The wild, cruel animal is not behind the bars of a cage. He is in front of it.

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 11 years ago

I agree he acted terribly in this episode but the only thing you've seen Drago in is Charmed? Are you serious? You haven't seen The Untouchables?

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