GUYVER: DARK HERO. One seriously underrated sci-fi movie
The adaptation of the manga about a man fused with a cosmic armor was dull, clumsy, and drawn-out. In 1994, Wang, this time alone, directed its sequel, Guyver: Dark Hero. The result was a film that nobody wanted to watch but turned out to be more than decent.
A regular guy becomes, against his will, the carrier of a biomechanical armor, the only weapon capable of defeating shape-shifting aliens disguised as humans planning to colonize Earth. Fused with the alien mechanism, the hero, driven by an inexplicable need, goes to an archaeological dig site where – as quickly becomes apparent – an ancient alien ship has been discovered. Monsters start appearing in the area, with which Guyver must deal using blades, lasers, and other weapons integrated into his armor. Okay, it probably sounds like gibberish, but try to summarize the plot of Avengers or the latest Batman. GUYVER: DARK HERO it is.
Contrary to appearances, the story of is GUYVER: DARK HERO more than just a pretext to showcase action scenes. Although there are many memorable action scenes, each more memorable than the previous one, there is a skillfully created atmosphere of an expedition into unknown territory. In this regard, even thematically similar Prometheus lags far behind. The characters of Guyver are genuinely engaged in their work, and each discovery is a significant event, revealing another piece of the mystery. And although towards the end, when everything inevitably hits the fan, dilemmas take a back seat, making way for a joyful massacre, it is evident that this film was made with attention to detail. Which is surprising because the budget of GUYVER: DARK HERO didn’t even exceed a million dollars.
If your jaws haven’t dropped, it means you haven’t seen this movie. It really looks like a more expensive production: there are many special effects, and almost all of them are high-quality animatronics. The action scenes are fast and well-shot, and they evoke admiration all the more so because all acrobatics were performed by real stuntmen, carrying heavy, complex costumes. Guyver: Dark Hero looks two classes better than it should, thanks to the director who cut his teeth on effects for Predator, Gremlins 2, or Evil Dead 2.
Acting-wise, it’s not bad, especially for a sci-fi film with a microscopic budget. The cast is a solid third league, with David Hayter standing out, known as the guy who lends his voice to Snake in the Metal Gear Solid game series. The biggest attraction, however, is the monsters that leave Earth’s pit in extremely bloody ways. Gore flows from the screen, and one often has to dodge flying bone fragments; read: each skirmish provides a lot of satisfaction. However, gore enthusiasts in the style of Saw won’t find what they’re looking for here because the violence is typically comic book – safe for children and teenagers.
I first watched Guyver: Dark Hero at the age of 11-12 – and then watched it so often that only a thin thread remained of the tape. It’s just a brilliantly crafted action film that not only pumps adrenaline but also stimulates the imagination. Although most of the action takes place in one location, you can feel that beyond the frame, there is a whole vast world full of its own myths and heroes whose goals are much broader.
Steve Wang achieved the impossible: for a pittance, continuing the poorly started story, he extracted the best from average source material, creating one of the most underrated films in the history of B-movies.
Michał Puczyński