Virus (復活の日 Fukkatsu no hi, Day of Resurrection) — FREEky Fridays

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Chris Nelson

Sorry about the lack of updates recently, but work’s been a bit hectic, and I somehow managed to tear my calf muscle playing basketball this week…anyways, you’re looking for some free flicks for this lovely Friday, yes?

My latest find is Kinji Fukasaku’s 1980 Apocalypse film, Virus (復活の日 Fukkatsu no hi, Day of Resurrection), completely uncut! Yes, this is the 156 minute version, rather than the 108 minute that was released stateside (the latter removed all poignant portions, and pretty much anything featuring Japanese people. WTF?!).

So you probably want to know what the heck this film is about.

From the Youtube description:

A plane crash has released a military-engineered virus and killed the entire world’s population — except 863 people in the region of Antarctica. The survivors are scientists who are on a desperate mission to develop a cure and save what is left of the planet.

What they forget to mention here, is that after the virus wipes out the majority of the population, the majority of the survivors are annihilated through nuclear war! Atomic AND viral catastrophe? That’s one apocalyptic apocalypse! Further, Virus has a huge international cast, featuring everyone from Sonny Chiba and Ken Ogata to Edward James Olmos and Olivia Hussey. And did I mention it was based on a novel by Sakyo Komatsu, who wrote Sayonara Jupiter and Japan Sinks?

Now, in some extra cool fashion, you can either watch the film through youtube (embedded below. Be sure to watch fullscreen) OR you can download a hi res mkv file of the uncut version from the internet archives. Free Fukasaku! How cool is that?

Anyways, I’ve rambled on enough. Enjoy the film: