Ghost Killer (2024) Film Review – A Duel of Two Souls in One Body Full of Danger

 

Ghost Killer | 2024 | 1h 45m
Genre: Gun Fu/Martial Arts/Supernatural Horror/Action/Crime/Horror | Country: Japan
Director: Kensuke Sonomura | Writers: Yugo Sakamoto
Cast: Akari Takaishi, Mario Kuroba, Masanori Mimoto
IMDB: 6.3
My Rate: 7/10

Her body being possessed by Kudo’s spirit, a hitman, forces Fumika to get involved in dangerous fights to settle the spirit’s revenge so he can finally rest in peace.

Warning:

Violence, alcohol, smoking, illegal drugs

Synopsis:

Kudo’s run as a hitman ends when a bullet pierces his heart. The empty bullet casing that rolls away is accidentally found and taken home by Fumika, a college student. That moment becomes the link between her and Kudo’s spirit, who cannot move on peacefully.

They realize that Kudo can possess Fumika’s body when they make contact. Even though Fumika’s consciousness stays intact, the control of her body is in Kudo’s hands. This strange situation makes Fumika look like she’s talking to herself in other people’s eyes.

At first, Kudo helps Fumika teach a lesson to a hot-tempered man, her friend’s boyfriend who keeps being abusive. He also deals with two influencers who try to harass her at a gathering. However, those actions drag Fumika into a conflict with Kudo’s former organization, which has now started hunting her down.

Will Fumika be able to fulfill Kudo’s revenge without sacrificing herself?

 

Review:

Imagine randomly picking up something on the street, only to end up dealing with the spirit of a hitman you’ve never met. That’s the situation explored in Ghost Killer, a supernatural action film by Kensuke Sonomura that blends comedy elements with dangerous conflicts.

The film opens with a smart scene and transition. Kudo’s background as a hitman is shown through a short fight that ends with his death. The rolling bullet casing becomes a visual medium to introduce the film’s title while also leading us to Fumika. This opening makes Ghost Killer feel engaging from the very first minute.

The conflict develops slowly from Fumika’s inner struggle, as she doesn’t want her body to be possessed by Kudo. Yet at the same time, Kudo’s presence actually gives her the courage to fight against injustice. The appearance of Kagehara, Kudo’s former partner in the organization, expands the conflict into something bigger: the reason behind Kudo’s death, who the mastermind is, and the corruption within the organization. The intensity of the fights increases and keeps the tension alive toward the end.

The resolution is handled fairly well, although there are a few things that feel less satisfying. Kudo’s disappearance at the end doesn’t leave a very strong emotional impact. Even so, Fumika’s character development is clearly visible throughout the film.

From a technical standpoint, Ghost Killer stands out in its visual presentation. The opening scene with smooth transitions, detailed camera movements, and the switch between Kudo and Fumika’s personas during fight scenes are executed seamlessly. Akari Takaishi delivers a solid performance, especially in differentiating gestures, intonation, and presence when she’s Fumika and when she’s possessed by Kudo. The music and sound effects also support the dynamic action atmosphere.

However, in terms of execution, there are still some logical details that feel a bit weak. The height difference between Fumika and Kudo is quite significant, so in the imagined fight scenes it feels less fully convincing. Also, Fumika, who has no physical training background, is still able to recover quickly after intense fights, even though logically the impact should feel more severe.

Overall, Ghost Killer successfully delivers a fairly fresh blend of action, comedy, and supernatural elements. Even though it leaves some shortcomings in logical details and emotional impact at the end, the film remains entertaining with its intense fight choreography and engaging visuals. Akari Takaishi, who previously appeared in Baby Assasin with a similar theme, once again shows significant acting growth while confirming her consistency in the action genre.

 

Impressive Scene:

One of the most impressive scenes in Ghost Killer is when Fumika and Kudo talk in Fumika’s apartment. Kudo admits that he is not a good person because of his past as a killer. However, Fumika instead asks him to stop being trapped in regret and use his abilities to save others as a form of redemption.

This scene feels close to reality. Everyone has a dark past that cannot be changed. But instead of drowning in guilt, the only thing we can do is choose to improve ourselves and face today better than yesterday. Change what we can change and control.

 

Impressive Dialogue:

“We kill people, how can we be good?”

 

Ending:

Happy Ending

 
Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

(Aluna)