History Film / MenBehindTheSun

** Horrifically averted later, as a Chinese blog post revealed that the cat was killed (by the owner) to provide the final shot after the rat swarming (Source: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4b3968180100bke7.html).

* StrappedToAnOperatingTable: {{Subverted}} as the child willingly got on the table because he was completely clueless to what they were going to due. Eventually he was knocked out before the surgery began so he wasn't able to resist.

* CouldntFindAPen: One of the ''maruta'' scrawls a condemnation of his captors on the wall of his cell in his own blood [[spoiler:when they're all gassed to death.]]

* ExploitationFilm: Unintentional, but is regarded as such my some.

* HellHolePrison: The inmates inside the facility were kept alive and healthy enough to be beaten, poisoned, infected, blown up, shot up, frozen, burned, or be subjected to whatever horrors the researches come up.

* LeaveNoSurvivors: When [[spoiler:Japan surrenders and Unit 731 is ordered to disband they kill all the maruta in the prison.]]
* LudicrousGibs: At one point, the cadets stationed at Unit-731 assemble a large amount of artillery shells in the middle of a field, around a large number of ''maruta''. The aftermath of the experiment shows [[{{Gorn}} what happens to anyone caught in the middle of an artillery barrage.]]

* MedicalHorror: TheMovie

* SlowClap: When Ishii demonstrates his low-temperature bacterial bomb,although it quickly turns into loud applause.

* MedicalHorror:

* NightmareFuel: This movie is not for the faint of heart.

* Dehumanization: The guards and scientists refer to the inmates as ''garutas,'' which translates as logs from Japanese.

* KillItWithFire: Unit 731's rat colony is disposed of with fire at the end. The live were actually set on fire for the scene as well.

''Men Behind the Sun'' is supposed to be a rather horrifyingly accurate depiction of Unit 731's activities in real life. However, the director based it on a fictional novel serialized in a Japanese Communist Party newspaper of questionable quality, to which can be traced the origins of many dubious facts regarding the Unit. Whether the film is a cheap ExploitationFilm or a valid commentary on the behavior of the Japanese Army is debated. Either way, it's almost guaranteed to ruin your day.

* StrappedToAnOperatingTable

* PleaseIWillDoAnything: {{Invoked}} word-for-word by [[Spoiler: a mother who was being locked in a gas chamber with her daughter.]]

* AdultFear: The gas chamber experiment featuring [[spoiler: a mother begging for her child not to be harmed as they're both gassed to death]].

* {{Gorn}}: Of all kinds, including a real cadaver, cut open on film.
* HarmlessFreezing: Averted. One woman's arms are slowly frozen by having cold water poured over them while outside in freezing temperatures
* HazmatSuit

* KillItWithFire: Unit 731's rat colony is disposed of with fire at the end.
* LeaveNoSurvivors: When [[spoiler:Japan surrenders and Unit 731 is ordered to disband.]]
* MadDoctor
* MadScientist
* MedicalHorror

* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: {{Played straight}} with the infamous scene of the cat being devoured by rats; it was red-dyed honey and the cat was rewarded with fish before being sent home to its owner. Averted with the rats themselves, [[spoiler:which were actually set on fire.]] No word either way on the gas chamber dove.
* PleaseIWillDoAnything: {{Invoked}} word-for-word.

* SlowClap: When Ishii demonstrates his low-temperature bacterial bomb.

* WouldHurtAChild: Several.

* AdultFear: The gas chamber experiment.

* BodyHorror

* CyanidePill
* EvilIsHammy: Shiro Ishii, especially when he demonstrates his new bacterial bomb.

* GasMaskMooks
* {{Gorn}}: Including a real cadaver, cut open on film.
* HarmlessFreezing: Averted.

Released in 1988, '''''Men Behind The Sun''''' ('''''Hei tai yang 731''''', ''The Black Sun Unit 731'' in native Hong Kong) is a film about the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, which during World War II conducted medical research and biological/chemical weapon experiments on captive human subjects. The film details many of the experiments carried out by the unit, and also follows a group of recruits to the unit's Youth Corps.

''Men Behind The Sun'' is supposed to be a rather horrifyingly accurate depiction of Unit 731's activities in real life. However, the director based it on a fictional novel serialized in a Japanese Communist Party newspaper of questionable quality, to which can be traced the origins of many dubious facts regarding the Unit. Whether the film is a cheap ExploitationFilm or a valid commentary on the behavior of the Japanese Army is debated. Either way, it's almost guaranteed to ruin your day.

Released in 1988, '''''Men Behind The Sun''''' ('''''Hei tai yang 731''''', ''The Black Sun (that is) Unit 731'' in native Hong Kong) is a film about the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, which during World War II conducted medical research and biological/chemical weapon experiments on captive human subjects. The film details many of the experiments carried out by the unit, and also follows a group of recruits to the unit's Youth Corps.

* ExploitationFilm

* CouldntFindAPen: One of the ''maruta'' scrawls a condemnation of his captors on the wall of his cell [[spoiler:when they're all gassed to death.]]

* CouldntFindAPen: One of the ''maruta'' scrawls a message on the wall of his cell [[spoiler:when they're all gassed to death.]]

* {{Gorn}}: Including a real cadaver.

* KickTheDog: Except it's not a dog, it's a cat. And it's not kicked, it's [[spoiler:eaten alive by rats.]]
* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler:The rats]] at the end.

* ShootTheDog: Leaving a baby to freeze to death, and the fate of the mute child.

* TheSpeechless

''Men Behind The Sun'' is supposed to be a rather horrifyingly accurate depiction of Unit 731's activities in real life. However, the director based it on a fictional novel serial in Japanese Communist Party newspaper of questionable quality to which can be traced the origins of many questionable facts regarding the Unit. Whether the film is a cheap ExploitationFilm or a valid commentary on the behavior of the Japanese Army is debated. Either way, it's almost guaranteed to ruin your day.

* BasedOnATrueStory - Most or all of the experiments depicted actually took place, as did most of the historical background.

* CouldntFindAPen - One of the ''maruta'' scrawls a message on the wall of his cell [[spoiler:when they're all gassed to death.]]
* CruelAndUnusualDeath - The guy in the pressure chamber.

* EvilIsHammy - Shiro Ishii, especially when he demonstrates his new bacterial bomb.

* ForScience - War or not, this was the justification for many researchers.

* {{Gorn}} - Including a real cadaver.
* HarmlessFreezing - Averted.

* KarmaHoudini - As the film points out, Ishii and most of his men escaped judgment after the war.
* KickTheDog - Except it's not a dog, it's a cat. And it's not kicked, it's [[spoiler:eaten alive by rats.]]
* KillItWithFire - [[spoiler:The rats]] at the end.
* LeaveNoSurvivors - When [[spoiler:Japan surrenders and Unit 731 is ordered to disband.]]

* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate - And how.
* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: Played straight with the infamous scene of the cat being devoured by rats; it was red-dyed honey and the cat was rewarded with fish before being sent home to its owner. Averted with the rats themselves, [[spoiler:which were actually set on fire.]] No word either way on the gas chamber dove.
* PleaseIWillDoAnything - Invoked word-for-word.
* SequelDecay - The film was followed by several sequels, none of which were anywhere near as shocking as the original.
* ShootTheDog - Leaving a baby to freeze to death, and the fate of the mute child.
* SlowClap - When Ishii demonstrates his low-temperature bacterial bomb.

* WouldHurtAChild - Several.

Released in 1988, '''''Men Behind The Sun''''' ('''''Hei tai yang 731''''', ''The Black Sun (That is) Unit 731'' in native Hong Kong) is a film about the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, which during World War II conducted medical research and biological/chemical weapon experiments on captive human subjects. The film details many of the experiments carried out by the unit, and also follows a group of recruits to the unit's Youth Corps.

Released in 1988, '''''Men Behind The Sun''''' ('''''Hei tai yang 731''''' in native Hong Kong) is a film about the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731, which during World War II conducted medical research and biological/chemical weapon experiments on captive human subjects. The film details many of the experiments carried out by the unit, and also follows a group of recruits to the unit's Youth Corps.

* HarmlessFreezing - Averted ''so'' hard.

''Men Behind The Sun'' is actually a rather horrifyingly accurate depiction of Unit 731's activities in real life. Whether the film is a cheap ExploitationFilm or a valid commentary on the behavior of the Japanese Army is debated. Either way, it's almost guaranteed to ruin your day.

* ButItReallyHappened - Most or all of the experiments depicted actually took place, as did most of the historical background.

* AdultFear: The gas chamber experiment. [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel Good lord,]] the gas chamber experiment.