Lobisomem Enfurecido

It's called Wolf Guy, but I feel like the main character is a guy far more often than he's a wolf, or even just showcasing some werewolf-like characteristics. The title does mislead a little by putting the wolf part first, and maybe it's on me for getting my hopes up that this action/crime/horror mash-up would have an investigator who turned into a werewolf more often while solving various murder cases. The wolf part plays a less in-your-face role in the movie, which is unusual, because the rest of the movie isn't shy about being very in-your-face.

I guess the horror elements are surprisingly underplayed, but as an action-heavy 1970s Japanese crime movie, it works pretty well. The action mostly satisfies, and there is thankfully a lot of it. Sonny Chiba could play this kind of role in his sleep, and he's great here as the lead character. The story also moves pretty quickly and provides a good deal of stuff in a runtime that doesn't exceed 90 minutes. If a scene here or there isn't working, it never lasts long, and the movie consistently pivots to new, crazy ideas, meaning that the movie's weak points never linger long enough to feel hugely detrimental.

If you want a crime thriller/action movie with a twist, Wolf Guy satisfies. Once again, I will say I wish there had been some more actual wolf stuff, but werewolf mythology is still incorporated in other ways throughout the film, and it's usually enough to make this stand out as a unique and worthwhile oddity within the broad (and exciting) pantheon of Japanese genre movies from the 70s.

Who expects to see a usual werewolf transformation, you must skip this Japanese picture, the star fight Sonny Shiba portraits a reporter Akira Inugami at Tokyo modern days whom in every lunar cycle he turns in an offbeat werewolf, he got an inner power and becomes a sort of unbeatable guy without any visible metamorphosis at all, he investigates several bloody murders of a rock band members that including a pretty girl, also the Yakusa entering in the game sponsored by a powerful politician.

An action horror picture mixing martial arts, extremely gory and surreal concerning a ghost tiger, actually Akira is a last survivor of ancient bloodline of werewolves, the plot delves into a Tokyo underground circuit of nightclubs, drug dealers and prostitution under the command of Yakusa, a sexploitation flick strongly inspired on Japanese Manga, colorful and sexy girls, where the beast-hero Sonny Shiba burst without mercy, fine entertainment from seventies.

Thanks for reading.

Resume: First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.

Sonny Chiba plays the only survivor of a clan of werewolves who relies on his feral, full-moon-activated superpowers to solve mysterious crimes. One night, a bizarre and bloody death in the Tokyo streets plunges him into a far-reaching conspiracy populated by crooked politicians, naked women, an invisible phantom tiger, and a shadowy organization known as the J-CIA.

Steve Kopian writes, "If you look up WTF in the dictionary, one of the top five definitions will be this film." He is not wrong. While this may not be one of he five most bizarre movies out there, it certainly makes every attempt. And if "weird" isn't your thing, there are also copious explosions and a great deal of gun play and squibs in the later scenes, evincing a definite Sam Peckinpah influence. So, there's that.

As author Bryan Senn points out, even though the title is "Wolf Guy", one of the strange things is that Chiba never actually becomes a wolf at all. He has his strength fluctuate based on the lunar cycle, and at its peak he can deflect bullets or even reverse the effects of being disemboweled. But at no point does he howl or even grow the slightest bit of hair.

If one person can be blamed for this bizarre mash-up, it must be writer Fumio Kônami (1933–2012). By this point in his career, he had already made a name for himself with "Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion" (1972) and "New Battles Without Honor and Humanity" (1974), both of which are available in the United States thank to Arrow Video. Director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi's first impression upon being given the story was actually, "Is this worth making a movie out of?" Luckily someone said yes.

On top of all the awesome visuals, there is an unbelievably funky score that I need to have. As noted in other reviews, it would be great is Arrow (and others) would more frequently add a bonus music disc to their Blu releases. We need more love for the soundtracks, too.

For decades the film was presumed lost, and remains tragically little known. Thankfully, Arrow Video has brought it out of the depths and on to Blu-ray. They also give us new video interviews with actor Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba (14 minutes), director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (10 minutes), and producer Toru Yoshida (17 minutes).

Composer Fukamachi Jun was having an absolute ball. With keyboards, theremin, and juicy electric guitar all over the place, the music both atmospheric and upbeat distinctly recalls contemporary Pink Floyd in all their psychedelic, meandering glory, with some additional influence from funk and otherwise prog rock. Why, I wouldn't mind tracking down a copy of the soundtrack here for my collection, and I barely listen to music any more. Yes, the tunes in 'Wolf guy' are a blast. And that's good, because the first impression that this flick makes is that the music will be the most consistent highlight. That's hardly to cast aspersions on the remainder, but the direction feels a tad loose from the outset, and the cinematography overzealous in a manner seen all too often in subsequent years that's intended to swap out the earnest impact of stunts and effects for, if you'll pardon me, "Whoa-oa-oa! Look at this camera, just flying all over the place!" Plot development is also decidedly brusque and clunky, and sometimes all but incohesive, accentuated by that moment when our first female character is abruptly introduced and then, oh, I guess we're in a sex scene now. When the progression does come across as a tad more lucid, it's almost as if the filmmakers suddenly realized in the midst of the shoot that there was an actual narrative they were supposed to be imparting, too.

Don't get me wrong, I know what type of film I sat to watch. Or at least, I understood very quickly after I pressed "play." I've seen the exploitation flicks and low-budget, low-grade fare churned out by the likes of Jesus Franco and Jean Rollin; I've seen one-shot OVAs that just forged ahead and told their story, nevermind judicious sense or care. Director Yamaguchi Kazuhiko, cinematographer Nakajima Yoshio, writer Konami Fumio, producer Yoshida Toru - well, they were just here to have a good time, weren't they? This title cares about flavor and style, not function or substance, and by Jove, if you're in the audience, you had best be on board with that ethos. A lot of action violence, something something supernatural, and all the stunts, effects, blood, gore, and physical, spirited acting you could want to bring these to bear: and that's a movie! Sure, there's a plot here, too, and apparently it's an adaptation of a manga. And it's fine. But the plot is almost beside the point in this corner of the medium, isn't it? Likewise for characters who are only here either to die, or to be painted with broad ideas. The plot is duly compelling such as it is (if not completely satisfying as it presents), and the scenes are vibrant in providing the fuel for the cast and crew to bring the seedy tableau to life. Maybe, after all, this is all that 'Wolf guy' needed to be.

If you want action, you'll get it, including one brief late sequence that's straight out of Eon Productions' James Bond franchise. If you want skin, you'll definitely get some. If you want a sordid tale of crime, violence, drugs, and women, you'll get it. If you come here for the suggested element of horror, you'll sort of get it, in scattered bits and pieces, and of course more so as the length draws on. For the record, though, the name of the piece, and a supposed core trait of Sonny Chiba's protagonist, doesn't meaningfully come into play until late in the runtime, and even then, not in the way one would assume from the outside looking in. In fairness, taken in and of itself the story is solid, and there are excellent ideas in here ripe for genre cinema. It's just that this feature, as it exists, is far less concerned about that story than it is about the violence, gnarly imagery, and rip-roaring entertainment for which the foremost ideas could be a vehicle. And it shows, again and again. Perish the thought of balance or earnest, careful plot; exactly how much one will get out of the viewing experience will vary greatly from one person to the next. For my part I did enjoy 'Wolf guy,' and I think it's worthwhile on its own merits even if it didn't really meet its full potential; it's also likely best left to watch on a quiet day when you're having a hard time deciding on something else. Take that as you will.

If you like Sonny Chiba, you will enjoy this movie. It has a slice of literally everything that made 70s movies cool: martial arts, action & stunts, horror with gore, crime/detective mystery, revenge, Yakuza, and even a bit of X-Files. Imagine R-rated Blade mixed with Shaft, starring Sonny Chiba and made in Japan. It is wonderfully weird and unapologetic.

Everytime you think you have this movie figured out it throws you a new curveball.

The fight scenes are classic Sonny Chiba, hard hitting and realistic. Whoever in the special effect department that was in charge of blood was working overtime.

And the viral "Sonny Chiba eating a steak" video ain't even the tip of the iceberg.