Arrow Video, out now

A deluxe, five-disc collection, offering two cuts each of the two Battle Royale movies, a CD soundtrack and more.

In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary “Battle Royale” act. That’s the delicious premise of these ultra-violent Japanese shockers, owing more then a nod to Lord of the Flies and The Most Dangerous Game, and subsequently influencing such Young Adult series as The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner.

The real prizes here are the theatrical and extended director’s cuts of Kenta Fukasaku’s 2000 movie, presented in 4K UHD. The kids of Third Year Class-B Shiroiwa Junior awake to find themselves trapped on an island, with the gruesome premise that they must kill it he killed. With explosive, tamper-proof collars around their necks, they’re sent out into the wilderness with a randomly-chosen weapon, from hand Grenade or machine gun, to binoculars or pot lid.

And so we watch the 42 classmates hack and shoot each other until there’s a winner. It’s gruesome stuff, with frequent arterial spray. Good use is made of the volcanic, subtropical Hachijo Island, the HDR enhancing the lush, colourful vegetation. There’s also a great performance by Takeshi Kitano (Zatoichi) as the overseer.

The theatrical and extended cuts of the 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem/Revenge, directed by Fukasaku’s son Kenta, each get a disc each. These are HD rather than UHD transfers, but the picture is still extra sharp. Set three years after the original, it follows the survivor of the original movie trying to bring down the Japanese government, while being pursued by a classroom of killers. It’s a longer film (the extended cut is 2.5 hours) and lacks the originality of the original, but it’s still an absolute, bonkers blast.

The final disc is devoted to the complete original soundtrack to Battle Royale by Masamichi Amano, performed by the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s a fine score, and this is a welcome addition to the package. The set also contains a 120-page monograph on the director by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes, illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson, a Battle Royale Trump Card set and a reversible poster with new artwork.

There’s a whole bunch of extras spread across the first four discs, too many to list out here. The enthusiastic commentary by critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp on the theatrical cut is worth your time, as is the 42-minute look at the legacy of the movie and some moving tributes by Kenta Fukasaku about his father.

Verdict: The definitive collector’s version of two influential early 21st Century Japanese shockers, this hefty package is locked and loaded with content and goodies. 10/10

Nick Joy