Hiruko the Goblin
Hiruko the Goblin (Yōkai Hantā: Hiruko (妖怪ハンター ヒルコ, Ghost Hunter: Hiruko)) is a 1991 Japanese horror film directed by Shinya Tsukamoto and starring Kenji Sawada.[1] It is based on a manga by Daijiro Morohoshi.
| Hiruko the Goblin | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Shinya Tsukamoto |
| Produced by | Toshiaki Nakazawa Yasuhiro Hasegawa Shin Yoneyama |
| Written by | Daijirō Morohoshi Koji Tsutsumi Shinya Tsukamoto |
| Starring | Kenji Sawada |
| Music by | Tatsushi Umegaki |
| Cinematography | Masahiro Kishimoto |
| Edited by | Yoshitami Kuroiwa Shinya Tsukamoto |
| Distributed by | Shochiku-Fuji Company (Theatrical release) Kaijyu Theater |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Plot
Reijiro Hieda, a young and energetic archeologist, has been discredited since advocating heretical theories. A letter from his brother-in-law Yabe, a junior high school teacher, tells of his discovery of an ancient tomb built to appease evil spirits. Hieda eagerly goes to investigate, only to find that Yabe has mysteriously disappeared along with one of his students, Reiko Tsukishima. Meanwhile, Yabe's son, Masao, searches for his father in the school during summer vacation and encounters Reiko. Masao becomes engulfed in a mysterious atmosphere, and strange creatures appear, upon which his back begins to ache and emit smoke. Hieda appears and saves Masao. Together they search the premises and find a sea of blood and a headless body while Reiko's quiet voice is heard singing.
Cast
- Kenji Sawada as Reijirou Hieda
- Masaki Kudou as Masao Yabe
- Hideo Murota as Watanabe
- Naoto Takenaka as Takashi Yabe
- Megumi Ueno as Reiko Tsukishima
Reception
In his book Horror and Science Fiction Film IV, Donald C Willis stated that Hiruko the Goblin was a variation of Bug, The Fly, Attack of the Crab Monsters and A Nightmare on Elm Street III, but "puts a fresh weird spin on each variation".[2] Noting that "the film is situated amusingly between the comic, the creepy, the campy and Luis Buñuel."[2]
Notes
- "New York Times: Hiruko the Goblin". NY Times. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- Willis 1997, p. 232.
References
- Willis, Donald C. (1997). Horror and Science Fiction Films IV. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3055-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)