Dir. Kensuke Sonomura (2024)
A college student finds herself possessed by the ghost of an assassin and decides to help him seek revenge.
Yakuza films have a long, rich history in Japanese cinema. There are thousands of films that fall within the genre, filled with amazing directors like Akira Kurosawa, Kinji Fukasaku, Takashi Miike, and, yes, even Quentin Tarantino. The Japanese underworld is a fascinating subject on its own, but the filmmakers' blend of crime movie with kung fu influences often makes for some truly entertaining action/drama films. Today's film, from stuntman-turned-director Kensuke Sonomura, is a fantastic example of the Yakuza movie with a little bit of genre sprinklings thrown in for good measure.
Fumika (Akari Takaishi) is a young girl who is looking forward to starting her life after college. Kudo (Masanori Mimoto) is an assassin who didn't make it through his last job alive. When Fumika finds the bullet that was used to kill him on the street, it forms a connection between the two that enables Kudo to possess Fumika's body. Together, they decide to get revenge on the people who killed Kudo, vowing to take down the entire criminal organization responsible while protecting Fumika's future as well.
It stands to reason that Sonomura's history as a stuntman and fight choreographer would translate well behind the director's chair, and it most certainly does. Ghost Killer's fight scenes are impeccably done, with a lot of the "gun fu" that audiences have come to expect from films like John Wick and its imitators. Of course, this was already pretty common in the Yakuza film, and it's used to great effect here. The fight scenes are phenomenal, and the pacing of the film is a perfect example of how you can tell the story through exposition without ever boring the audience.
The surprising thing about the film is how emotionally impactful it becomes. The relationship between Fumika and Kudo, portrayed wonderfully by Takaishi and Mimoto, is endearing and adorable. Takaishi delivers a deeply layered performance, a smart-ass teen girl who kicks some serious ass. Mimoto does an excellent job of showing that his assassin isn't quite as one-note as he first appears either, showing a lot of character growth in a role that demands it. The pair together are excellent, and help elevate what was already going to be an enjoyable film into something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Fantastic Fest has always got a great movie lineup, but Ghost Killer is one of my favorites of the festival so far. It's a super fun movie from an action perspective, but it works on every level beneath that as well. Sonomura does a great job with this one, and it's the type of film that makes me want to check out the rest of his work. This will be a treat for genre fans, and if you're already into the Japanese Yakuza genre, all the better. This is a good one.
Who this movie is for: Action movie fans, Asian crime movie lovers, Badass teen girls
Bottom line: Ghost Killer is a fantastic movie, blending genres between the Japanese Yakuza film and a lighthearted possession flick as well. The central performances are excellent, the fight choreography is stellar, and it's a film with some serious heart. It just played at Fantastic Fest, and if you get the chance to watch this one, you definitely need to do so. I have a feeling you'll really enjoy it.
