Inuyashiki (2018) [Film Review]

Inuyashiki; or, Dawn of Salty Water

     Hanako… you better get ready!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the abundance of modern superhero flicks? Even though many of them are indeed entertaining, they frequently follow an established structure. Marvel has their formula and (*smirk*) DC has theirs as well. Not to mention release dates separated by literally days in some cases. Well, guess what? You are the perfect viewer to check out the Japanese superhero action movie called Inuyashiki.

Release Info

Directed by: Shinsuke Sato Starring: Noritake Kinashi, Takeru Sato, Ayaka Miyoshi, Kanata Hongo

Language: Japanese Original title: いぬやしき Runtime: 126 min

 

Plot

Meet Ichiro Inuyashiki (Noritake Kinashi), a typical office worker with a wife, Marie (Mari Hamada), and two teenage children, Mari (Ayaka Miyoshi) and Takeshi (Nayuta Fukuzaki). The family has recently moved in to a new house. Nothing would seem out of the ordinary in this “stock photo-like” family apart from the fact that Inuyashiki is despised by his closest ones. At his workplace too, he is regarded as an incapable and worthless employee. The only consolation for Inuyashiki is a stray dog, Hanako, whom he takes in. After the wife orders him to get rid of the dog, Inuyashiki is struck by a huge wave of light in the park. When he wakes up, he discovers that his body was turned into a cybernetic machine. Inuyashiki gains enormous muscle strength, can hear people from great distances, but most importantly, he can heal those who are on the verge of death. Inuyashiki’s will to do good is going to be tested in a duel against Hiro Shishigami (Takeru Sato), a high school student who was also struck by the mysterious light.

 

First Action Hero

I think I should begin by pointing out that I have watched this movie cold. No description, no trailer whatsoever. The official poster with Takeru Sato at the front was enough to get me encouraged. Retrospectively, I don’t recommend this approach. You need to know beforehand that this movie is an adaptation of Hiroya Oku’s science fiction manga series that received an 11-episode anime treatment. Basically, as already outlined in the plot section, it’s about two men becoming advanced battle machines, but with such a difference that one does good and the other does evil.

 

Inuyashiki is a slow-burner. Initially, I was convinced that this is Ikiru tragedy about a middle-aged man mixed with a bit of school drama (yes, 29 year old Takeru Sato effortlessly passes off as a student). However, things gradually start to spin as the main characters begin to discover their supernatural abilities. In contrast to many recognisable comic book heroes, Inuyashiki is physically a different being, although he has his memories and usual demeanour intact.

 

One could say that the movie is a typical zero-to-hero story. However, I believe that Inuyashiki is actually a clever parody of this format. The main protagonist never gains self-respect as he is continuously treated like a punching bag; however, he finds fulfilment in anonymously helping out other people. As for Hiro Shishigami, I wouldn’t label him as the bad guy. He is just a man who had a crappy past, which made him bitter and vengeful. His friendship with Ando was just as touching as Inuyashiki’s re-establishment of fatherly bond with Mari, an estranged daughter. Having said this, in my opinion, character development is the strongest advantage of this picture.

 

Speaking about the disadvantages, there were a few. Specifically, the film is unevenly paced. It starts off like M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable (2000) and ends like Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 (2013). On top of that, the whole second act is devoted solely to Hiro, which at a certain point made me think that the movie should be renamed Shishigami. Thankfully, these issues faded away in the glory of a brilliant and action-packed third act.

 

With regard to performances, Noritake Kinashi rocks as Inuyashiki. This is the first time I have seen this actor in action and I would love to check his other works. In addition, this is my first time seeing Takeru Sato as the villain. He did a great job, even though I couldn’t get out of my head his other roles from Bitter Blood (2014) and Bloody Monday (2008). Ayaka Miyoshi also deserves a mention as Mari, Inuyashiki’s daughter

 

Briefly touching upon some trivia, the character of Inuyashiki was actually voiced in anime by Fumiyo Kohinata :) I wonder how his take on the role would have looked like in the live action version. Coincidentally, the only actor who "appeared" in both the anime and the movie is Kanata Hongo as Ando, Hiro’s childhood friend. On a side note, I wonder if the creative team behind the movie has seen the old American comedy Real Men (1987), because it also jokingly uses the motifs of finger guns and drinking water.

 

Recommendations

Highly recommended to anyone who wants to spend an entertaining evening. The movie is not flawless, but it is ridiculously enjoyable nonetheless. Especially in the era of Marvel and DC universes, we need more everyman heroes like Inuyashiki. Superman? Batman? Guyver?! Give me a break. I’ll take Inuyashiki over them any day. Give him a cameo in Avengers: Endgame!

Overall score: 7/10