The Film (3.5/5)

In an alternate reality version of Japan, the world is home to both Humans and Ghouls. The Ghouls are humanoid in form, but have two hidden secrets. One is their hidden tentacles that help them catch food, the second is there hunger for the only food they can eat, Human flesh.

The ghouls live in the underground and try to get along with their lives. Mostly hiding out in Coffee shops, with espresso being one of the few Human pleasures they can partake in. All is going fine and dandy for shy college student Ken (Masataka Kubota), until his blind date with a fellow Book lover turns into a near death experience, with the lady turning into a bloodthirsty ghoul. Barely surviving the attack, Ken’s blood is now fused with the ghoul’s. He must now live a double life as a newly formed ghoul.

TOKYO GHOUL (2017) is a live-action adaptation of the manga of the same name by Sui Ishida.The original manga was a huge international success with a major release anime. I’ve only seen about five or so episodes of the show, So going in I didn’t know what to expect. One thing that has been common place in the Japanese film industry is how reliable Manga films can be. It seems like every year they will green light anything with a marketable name. To my surprise, TOKYO GHOUL is not only a fun movie, but one that stands out among the butch released in the US.

Director Kentaro Hagiwara shows a promising start hereafter only doing one feature and a few shorts. He understands pacing and suspense and milks both to their breaking point. The movie is genuinely scary in parts, with the ghouls having unnerving red and black eyes. The tentacles being the only cheesy element with some unconvincing CGI.

In terms of the cast, Masataka Kubota (Takashi Miike’s 13 ASSASSINS) makes a likable hero as Ken. He starts off as naive with his nose dug deep into a book. Before long he is facing the struggles of being a ghoul. The endless hunger, the shakes, and of course having to cope with the fact that he will always have a urge to try and eat his best friend.

Here is hoping that Hagiwara has some more quality films in him. I can’t wait to see more.

Audio/Video (5/5)

Funimation brings TOKYO GHOUL to Blu-ray with a fantastic looking transfer and sound mix. The first audio option is the Japanese 5.1 Dolby TrueHD mix. The effects and music sound fresh and they completely drag you into this fantasy version of Japan. The 5.1 English dubbed mix sounds equality good, but I tend to prefer original language when possible. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD transfer is a real beauty. The moody lighting and bizarre colors bring Tokyo to live in a nightmarish glow. The textures are clear and the focus is sharp. Not only is this a fine looking film, but this transfer makes it excellent for fans.

Extras (3/5)

The main extra is a brief press panel with the film’s creative team and some of the cast. Most of the questions are standard and the crew seem to show face and spotlight the film in the best light. That being said I enjoyed the segment, and I’m happy the finished product can be enjoyed without the anime. Rounding the disc is a Japanese trailer for TOKYO Ghoul as well as some more Funimation releases.

Overall (3.5/5)

TOKYO Ghoul is an unexpected spooky treat. I don’t know how fans of the anime will react to this film, but as a stand alone, it’s atmospheric and haunting little tale. Small in scale with a likable cast. Funimation has done the fans a service with this handsome release. Go grab it up. Highly Recommended.