This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from Arrow Video is now available for purchase.
The late Kinji Fukasaku was a notable Japanese director who slowly developed a massive North American cult following late in life. Over decades making movies in Japan, he helmed some incredible pictures in a wide variety of genres. Readers in this part of the globe will be most familiar with the campy science-fiction feature The Green Slime, the Yakuza films Sympathy for the Underdog and the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series, as well as Battle Royale. Alone, these titles mark an incredible resume, but he also directed more than 55 other titles.
Naturally, movie fans are interested in seeing more of this catalog. This week, Arrow Video is helping by putting out a Blu-ray of The Threat. This hostage thriller is the earliest picture for the moviemaker that has been released in this part of the world on disc. However, its long absence here doesn’t mean that it isn’t every bit as compelling as his other works. Even in 1966, Fukasaku clearly had the skills to set up tension and dramas, and he delivers it here in spades.
Reminiscent in some respects story-wise of Desperate Hours and Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, this tale involves Misawa (Rentaro Mikuni), a company accounts man willing to do just about anything for the benefit of his bosses. After agreeing to deliver a flowery speech at a forced marriage between the head of the corporation’s mistress and a young man she doesn’t love, the figure heads home to spend a bit of time with wife Hiroko (Masumi Harukawa) and son Masao (Pepe Hozumi). Thefamily are surprised to find escaped death row convicts Kawanishi (Ko Nishimura) and Sabu (Hideo Murota) at their door with a baby. The pair take the family hostage, making terrifying demands. While Hiroko and Masao show resistance, Misawa falls into his routine of following instructions and doing exactly what he is told. It’s soon revealed that the inmates are expecting a ransom payment for the baby and that Misawa will be their bagman.
Home invasion and hostage dramas aren’t anything unusual, but Fukasaku delivers the goods. It has great performances from his cast, excellent photography, social commentary and genuine tension throughout. The main character is a fascinating critique of Japanese work culture and the mentality of businessmen during the period. He treats his employers with unwarranted reverence and the villains realize very quickly that he won’t disobey them. Naturally, they take advantage of the situation, and, perhaps more horrifically, the emasculated and frustrated lead starts taking his aggressions out on his wife (who does her best to refuse their threats and advances). Of course, Misawa justifies his actions by thinking that he’s trying to save his family, but it’s simply an excuse. The scenario leads to some dark and disturbing interactions.
This results in a psychological crisis for Misawa, who must eventually deal with his inner turmoil and stand up to the aggressors. All of the actors are exceptional. Obviously, Misawa is a deeply flawed character who takes his inadequacies out on his own loved ones, but that is the point of the movie and he delivers it exceptionally. This is an obsequious man who must see the error of his ways and confront himself.
It’s also interesting to see the plan on the part of the stressed villains, who are using kidnapping and hostage taking in two instances within the same story in order to try and get money and secure an escape route. This is another unique presentation of sinister parties, as they use infants as leverage in order to get what they want and taunt those around them.
The black and white photography is excellent, along with some creative photography. Fukasaku uses overhead shots, Dutch tilts, as well as a few rapid camera moves to create both an energetic and unsettling tone. Physical confrontations between characters are messy and violent, far more than one would expect from films of this period. And when the protagonist starts to have his own breakdown, there are some unique experiments used with the shutter and camera speed to put him at odds with the world around him. Everyone about the movie is consistently tense and dynamic and the pacing never lets up. It does a great job of making the viewer wonder if he can stand up to the threat, or if he will completely fall apart.
It serves as another incredible feature in the director’s already notable career. The high-definition master supplied to Arrow Video by Toei Company is very good as well. This is a solid transfer that looks quite strong with little noise. There are plenty of little background details in the house and especially in the later outdoor sequences that are impressive and look excellent upconverted on a 4K Ultra HD disc player.
This release also contains plenty of bonuses. The first is a film historian commentary that gives all sorts of relevant background information about the movie, cast and crew as well as the director. There are also notes on the editing and camera angles that are informative. Additionally, another Japanese movie expert is interviewed and talks about Fukasaku and his early works. He notes other titles of the era that may have inspired the story, while also noting interesting differences in this effort along with its more extreme stylistic elements.
Additionally, a trailer is included. As for the packaging, you’ll get a booklet with writing on the film, as well as a reversible sleeve and double-sided fold-out poster containing original and newly created artwork for the movie. Again, Arrow Video has done a wonderful job with this presentation.
If you enjoy the films of Kinji Fukasaku, there’s no doubt you’ll be impressed with this “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of The Threat. The movie has some very distressing elements, and yet is tense, engaging and ultimately entertaining. The time flies by and it delivers the kind of impressive camerawork and even deeper meanings one would hope to see from the director. It may be the first time this title has been available in this part of the world, but it’s yet another winner. This Blu-ray can sit on the shelf proudly right next to the director’s famous pictures.