Bio Hunter

In Japanese Anime' director Yuzo Sato's "Biohunter," the greatest enemy is that of within: a strange virus is infecting the human genetic code and turning people into bizarre monsters who have demonic powers. One of these mutant creatures is prowling the streets of Tokyo, killing young women and devouring their livers. Two scientists, dubbed "biohunters," are out there trying to get a handle on the "Demon Virus," as it is called, before it conquers the whole world.

One of these scientists, Komada, is infected with the virus, but something in his immune system prevents it from fully taking control of him. He can transform into a beastly creature at will, but it's easy to see that he's loosing the battle for his soul, and it's up to him and his partner Koshigaya to try to find a cure. Along the way, they meet a beautiful young woman who is being chased by some political/mafioso types because her uncle is a famed psychic with a unique knowledge of the murders plaguing Tokyo.

Based on the comic book by Fujihiko Hosono and written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll, Wicked City), "Biohunter" contains the usual elements of Kawajiri's past work including Asian spirituality and stylish writing. There is plenty of sex (the film opens with a graphic sex scene where a woman suddenly contracts the Demon Virus and attacks her lover) and nudity, and the violence is well up there, even though strangely enough "Biohunter" is restrained in this particular aspect.

The main problem with "Biohunter" is that it's just too short, coming in at barely 58 minutes in running time. So much happens during this picture that a lot is left unexplained to the viewer, which may be an even greater turn-off to those not accustomed to Japanese animation. It sort of gets to a point where things are happening, you don't know why, and you're just going along with the movie. I was seriously disappointed with this film's length, even though there is a lot working in its favor (mainly the big names behind the production), and the animation is fantastic.

But "Biohunter" is squarely reserved for die hard Anime' addicts. And as the ending shows, more is on the way, though I have not heard a peep about a "Biohunter 2" or "Biohunter: The Series."

6/10

The Guyver ('80s) and Wicked City are similar and do manage to hold my attention. This could've been a 20-minute episode.

This is definitely a bit of an overlooked anime. Its not the best of its kind, but definitely worth seeing for fans of both Kawajiri and this style of animation (which basically is him when you boil it down). If you liked any other of Kawajiri's projects you should be able to get into this too. I would place it close to wicked city, Cyber city oedo 808 and goku midnight eye, both style-wise and in its general mood. But you will find some more general elements in it as well. I find it better than wicked city almost as good as goku & cyber city The story is pretty straightforward, and not incredibly complex, but still it works well with he overall dark mood and atmosphere of the film. Soundtrack is imo incredible and well-fitting with the dark animations, characters are also good considering the shortness of it all..and very importantly to me the dialogue isn't too cheesy (from subtitles at least, i don't know Japanese). It doesn't really bother me that it only runs short of an hour, cause it makes it more dynamic i think.

Overall i say 7 out of 10 for this kind of anime

The wildly creative genius behind 'Ninja Scroll' & 'Vampire Hunter D' vividly unleashes another boldly imagined,dopamine-drenched, supernaturally stimulating, vividly animated B-horror masterclass! The ferociously flesh-flaying, devilishly demented 'Bio Hunter' is a menacingly mischievous, monstrously twisted, hate-fuelled horror hybrid of sinister scientific maleficence run amok! Can the uncommonly brave demon dispatching Bio-Hunters put a stop to the 'Demon Virus'? This genome-altering, deliriously death-dealing, anthropoid annihilating plague that is fatally perverting the populace into gratuitously gore-guzzling, grimly gallivanting ghouls??? Once again, Yûzô Satô's signature hyper-kinetic style proves heroically hectic, far from antiseptic, and frequently apocalyptic, 'Bio Hunter' will nuke your nerves, liquidate your loins, vaporize your viscera, and splatter your grey matter into lifeless brain batter! Hunt down this madly mutated midnight movie masterpiece if you dare!!!!!!

'Maestro, Yûzô Satô's exhilaratingly blood-spattered anime classic 'Bio Hunter' abounds excitingly with doomy, Neo-noir shadowed terrors! Satô creates a fascinatingly lurid realm of eerie, meta-mythical madness, an apocalyptic nightmare of preternaturally psychotronic Psi-Warfare!

Its been awhile since I have been impressed with an anime storyline. Usually its the visuals that have to grab me first. Biohunter did both. I was really impressed with the storyline, the visuals, and how well everything just flowed and above all kept my attention. I really liked the idea of one of the creatures being torn between his human self and his dark other half and how it was in his nature to try and save his friends from this "virus". Is there a Biohunter II??