My first introduction to the work of Sonny Chiba came from an unlikely source. It was when Clarence (Christian Slater) takes Alabama (Patricia Arquette) to a late-night Sonny Chiba triple-bill of The Streetfighter, Return of the Streetfighter and Sister Streetfighter in Tony Scott’s True Romance. Sony Chiba was one of the first actors to become famous for his martial arts skills, firstly in Japan and then worldwide. Wolf Guy, Kazuhiko Yamaguchi’s adaptation of Kazumasa Hirai’s manga, is one of his strangest roles.
Akira Inugami (Chiba) is the lone survivor of an ancient clan of werewolves. He uses his special powers to fight crime and solve mysteries. Whilst investigating a series of bloody killings, he uncovers a plot involving a clandestine organisation, a dead cabaret singer, corrupt politicians and a phantom tiger. He soon finds himself the target of a government organisation who want to harvest his blood in order to steal his powers.
Never before released outside of Japan, Wolf Guy (or to use its full title, Wolf Guy: Enraged Lycanthrope) is an incredibly odd film. Set to what sounds like a ‘70s porn soundtrack, Yamaguchi produces a mix or martial arts, supernatural horror and crime mystery; creating something which is both compelling and unfathomable. Wolf Guy has all the ingredients to be a cult classic; propelled by its irrepressible star.
Special Edition Contents:
- High Definition digital transfer
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- New optional English subtitle translation
- New video interview with actor Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba
- New video interview with director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- New video interview with producer Toru Yoshida
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Wes Benscoter
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Patrick Macias and a history of Japanese monster movie mashups by Jasper Sharp.
Wolf Guy is released on Blu-ray and DVD by Arrow Video on Monday 22 May.
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