This double-feature Blu-ray is currently available from Arrow Video.
In 1897, the iconic H.G. Wells novel The Invisible Man hit bookshelves and amassed a huge following. After the release of the 1933 film adaptation from Universal Studios, the title character became iconic. Since that time, there have been numerous filmic versions of the story. However, there have been a few features from Japan that have somehow managed to slip under the radar. A few of them didn’t even get released in North America. Monster movie enthusiasts can now rejoice and fill in some of the gaps with Arrow Video’s new Blu-ray of The Invisible Man Appears and The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly. They’re both entertaining genre movies that lift elements from the Universal classic and combine them with crime picture tropes to amusing and sometimes surreal effect.
The Invisible Man Appears follows Dr. Kenzo Nakazato (Ryunosuke Tsukigata) and a pair of research scientists who are experimenting with invisibility formulas. Kenzo has already secretly created a working serum, but has no way of reversing the condition. Meanwhile, brash researcher Shunji Kurakawa (Kanji Koshiba) and the more subdued Kyosuke Segi (Darjiro Natsukawa) are toiling on their own versions, hoping success will earn the love of the professor’s daughter, Machiko (Chizuru Kitagawa). When Kenzo tells local businessman Shosaku Sugiyama (Ichiro Kawabe) about his discovery, he fails to realize his acquaintance is an illegal jewel smuggler. Shosaku kidnaps Kenzo and enacts a needlessly complicated criminal plot to obtain a diamond necklace. It involves tricking someone into taking the formula and then promising to provide a non-existent antidote if they steal the goods for him. Unfortunately, violent behavior is a serious side-effect of the potion, causing trouble for all as the good guys try to uncover the truth.
Even though the movie was produced more than 15 years after the 1933 version, it’s clear that the Universal feature has inspired the look of the main character. We see the figure dressed in bandages and a trench-coat, unwrapping himself and attacking unsuspecting victims (sometimes even stealing their clothes to create more visual gags). The visual effects are impressive and it’s clear that a lot of effort went into them. Naturally, the sinister plot is silly and far too busy with numerous moving parts (including a budding romance between Kyosuke and Machiko that results in extreme jealousy from Shunji), but it is all part of the fun and it holds our attention as we try to keep up with all of the ongoing threads.
There are a couple of interesting spins added to this edition, especially as more characters become aware of the Invisible Man’s rampage. Criminals who haven’t taken the serum begin dressing up in bandages to serve as red herrings and even the good guys employ the tactic to trick the crooks. It’s enjoyable to see the filmmakers draw suspense out of misleading viewers. There’s also a supporting character in the form of Shunji’s sister, Ryuko (Takiko Mizunoe). She ends up being a very strong and pro-active female character who sets out to stop the villain herself. Overall, the movie is entertainingly quirky. It may be a little too overstuffed for its own good, but it’s a cracking ride and displays a couple of nifty twists on the concept.
The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly is an even crazier and more exaggerated experience. It’s a cheesy little 50s sci-fi picture that has little to do with the previous film, other than introducing another figure who becomes invisible. Admittedly, the pacing feels a bit slower with the story focused on a series of unexplained murders in the streets of Tokyo. It plays like a bizarre police procedural during the first half. However, when all is revealed and the heroes and villains face off, some truly bizarre and occasionally hilarious events follow.
Inspector Wakabayashi (Yoshiro Kitahara) is the cop assigned to solve these strange slayings, which involve persons being stabbed or killed in broad daylight without any witnesses. While investigating the possible reasons for these abnormal crimes, the detective visits the lab of Dr. Tsukioka (Ryuji Shinagawa), who happens to be working on an invisibility ray. Of course, they’re still working out the kinks, leading to some amusing experiments involving subjects who are only partially visible. As the case progresses, Wakabayashi discovers that the villain is actually a man who has developed an elixir giving him the power to shrink at will. It also allows him to fly around and buzz like an insect when he does so. As you might imagine, this results in some amusingly weird shots of a tiny, murderous guy floating through the air and escaping through vents. Wakabayashi and Dr. Tsukioka decide that the only way to stop the killer is for one of them to use the invisibility ray on themselves.
If you’re wondering why being invisible would be of any help in fighting a microscopic human fly, you wouldn’t be alone. But really, it’s all just an excuse for more wacky scenarios and plenty of trippy images as these two characters square off. The story itself is incredibly dopey, but as things progress and we see the protagonist and antagonist use their powers, the flick becomes a lot of fun to watch. And it is also a project of note for featuring an invisible man who is actually a hero instead of a villain.
Once again, credit should go to Arrow Video for finding and salvaging these titles. Remarkably, the films seem as if they were on the verge of being lost. The opening of each feature states that the disc was created from the best possible materials that could be located, which in this case was a 16mm exhibition print. While the picture isn’t quite as sharp as a recent Universal Blu-ray master, the final high-definition transfer looks solid (better than the stills here would suggest) and it will satisfy those excited to check the titles out.
As with all other Arrow releases, there are some fun bonuses as well. This includes a nifty featurette with critic Kim Newman, who goes over the entire history of “Invisible Man” movies. He gets them all, from early silent shorts, through the Universal titles, the Japanese features, to more recent B-movie items like The Invisible Maniac (1990). Of course, he also discusses studio fare including Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) and Hollow Man (2000). He finishes things up with a brief examination of the recent remake and box-office hit that starred Elizabeth Moss. The Blu-ray also comes with a trailer for the first movie and image galleries for both titles. And there’s a long, lengthy and informative article on the production history behind these movies included in booklet form.
All of the extras appear to explain that due to WWII, Japan arrived a little late to the monster movie party. They surmise that the 1933 original wouldn’t have been released in the country until after the end of the conflict, explaining why the first reimagining arrived at cinemas so late in the day. By the 1950s, monster movies like Godzilla and its follow-up were all the rage, along with titles like The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), which certainly influenced the follow-up. They also note that the second movie somehow managed to predate the original monster movie The Fly (1958), despite having a couple of similar elements.
If you enjoy classic monster movies from back in the day, then you should seek out The Invisible Man Appears and The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly on Blu-ray. In all, it’s a fascinating and fun little look into a couple of titles that would be otherwise unknown in this part of the world had no one decided to find and release it. Genre fans should familiarize themselves with these international takes on the famous character.