Ghost Killer: A fun and engaging martial arts comedy.

 

If you know anything about me or followed my blog, then you'll know that I've been a massive fan of Kensuke Sonomura's work. In recent years, I've also become a big fab of rising director and writer Yugo Sakamoto. So, when I came across a movie that was directed by the former and written by the latter? You know I had to watch it. 

Professional hitman Hideo Kubo was murdered after disagreeing with his new boss's methods. Stressed out college student Fumika Matsuoka discovered the single bullet responsible for causing Kubo's death. When she took the bullet home, the ghost of Kubo appeared before her, unable to move on in death. The pair swiftly learned that Kubo could possess Fumika whenever they held hands and that the former's physical abilities are transferred over in the process. Together, the unlikely pairing uncovered the truth behind Kubo's death and set about gaining a form of revenge. 

Kensuke Sonomura was always known for his action direction and choreography. Him actually getting behind the directors chair for entire movies didn't occur until Hydra and the result was a pleasant surprise. Since then, he went on to direct the excellent Bad City. So, he had a little experience before moving onto Ghost Killer. That little experience proved to be useful as his direction in Ghost Killer was solid. The cinematography was on point, with a dynamic array of shot types and techniques being used to tremendous effect throughout the runtime. Despite the low-budget, the camerawork, lighting and the neatly written script from Yugo Sakamoto helped make Ghost Killer a worthwhile viewing. 

The opening title sequence was quite a neat and fun way to showcase the credits. It was a series of shots following the journey of the bullet used to murder our titular ghost protagonist. The clean-up crew really messed up by not getting rid of the casing, didn't they? Not the best in the job, for sure. 

I really liked the fact that the connection between the two protagonists is caused by Fumika stumbling across the bullet. Sure, the way that she found it was extremely convenient, but at least it was something physical that linked Kudo to the human realm. It made sense and I just liked that it was something real, something personal to Kudo and it was smart writing by Yugo Sakamoto. 

The comedy of the movie came down to Fumika and Kubo's new-found connection. Especially when it came to them being in the company of others as no one could see or hear Kubo except Fumika, leading to hilarious results. The rules of the possession were well thought out and the two characters had some hilarious exchanges. Both leads had excellent comedic timing and chemistry. Naturally, the humour wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but it hit the mark for me, personally. 

The biggest highlight of the movie was the action. With Kensuke Sonomura in charge, that was never in doubt nor a surprise to anyone. His work helped improve and shape Japanese action. I cannot understate his importance to the genre and I'm sorry if this comes across as fanboying. He's just been that great. Anyways, the action in Ghost Killer showcased Sonomura's brilliant and unique style. All of the fluid motion, swift technique and dynamic camerawork that the legend has been known for were present. There were thankfully, moments were the differences between Fumika and Kubo were referenced. This included a palm strike not being as effective due to Fumika's smaller, female frame compared to Kubo's male strength. On top of that, Fumika at one point complained about her knuckles becoming hurt. That had a nice payoff later with Kubo taking time to deliberately wrap the knuckles. The best fight scene was saved for last and it was a glorious extended sequence that had high stakes, tension and plenty of skills that would be applicable in real life. 

Akari Takashi did a wonderful job as the stressed out college student, Fumika Matsuoka. She was convincing in the role, excelling at showcasing a wide variety of emotions to the point that I greatly sympathised with her. I definitely felt that exasperated sigh she made after having finished with her job at the restaurant. Relatable. She also handled the action sequences exceptionally well, managing to mimic Masanori Mimoto's movements really well despite the differences in training between the two. Dare I say that those who maybe didn't like her performances in the Baby Assassin's franchise might like her in Ghost Killer? It's possible.

Masanori Mimoto had always been kind of an unsung hero when it came to action movies, especially martial arts oriented ones. Ghost Killer, much like Hydra, proved that he could lead a movie. His comedic chops were a highlight. His emoting was much better than in Hydra, I greatly enjoyed his arc throughout the movie. He nailed a pivotal scene towards the climax, a poignant scene which enabled him to make great usage of facial expressions. The sobre music also helped. I feel like there's no need to mention that with his background, he more than delivered in the action sequences. He's been one of the best for years at action. 

There were also some nice cameos for the always great Masanori Mimoto and Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi. They didn't have a lot to work with, but I enjoyed seeing them regardless. 

Overall, Ghost Killer was a fun, enjoyable watch. It didn't overstay it's welcome, it delivered some epic action sequences, had a nice dash of comedy and dabbled in a bit of supernatural fun. I would definitely recommend it to action fans, especially if you've seen Akari Takaishi, Kensuke Sonomura and Yugo Sakamoto's collaborations in the phenomenal Baby Assassin's franchise.