"The Guard from Underground" (1992)

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s The Guard from Underground by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Directors Company, and Nichiei Agency.

Synopsis

A woman begins working at the same company as a security guard that she believes might be a former sumo wrestling serial killer.

The Good

Joseph: Five years before he helmed his cult horror classic Cure — later going on to direct other similarly regarded films, such as Pulse (2001) — Kiyoshi Kurosawa made The Guard from Underground, a spree killer chiller boasting some wry commentary on office politics. It follows some basic slasher movie elements but plays with them a bit. For example, we know who the killer is right away — heck, it’s given away in the title — and dark humor without straying into horror comedy is on display. The imposing new guard Fujimaru (Yutaka Matsuhige) at the office building where the action takes place just may be a former sumo wrestler who was acquitted for multiple murders because of an insanity plea, and he has become obsessed with young art expert Akiko (Makiko Kuno), who started work at the building the same week he did. Obsession from a murderer is never a good thing in a horror movie, and though Fujimaru is even somewhat of a diabolical avenging angel toward Akiko at times, he has dire intentions. Kuno is splendid as the put-upon new employee, sexually harassed by her boss and given tasks that are out of her field of expertise. Matsuhige makes for a solid antagonist, and his character comes up with some quite original ways to off those with whom he has issue, which is pretty much everyone in the building. The supporting cast members all turn in good work. Kurosawa creates an oppressive, brooding atmosphere in an office building filled with large, quiet rooms, empty hallways and stairways, and dark areas perfect for stalking and murdering.

Mike: While it's not without its flaws, there are many things that make The Guard from Underground worth checking out. Kurosawa creates a truly eerie and unsettling atmosphere within the corporate office building at night, providing an almost palpable sense of claustrophobia and dread. Depicting the office as a soulless and alienating environment is particularly effective as it dehumanizes the effects of corporate culture.

The characters in The Guard from Underground are well-developed and believable with Akiko, the film's protagonist, being a very sympathetic and relatable character. The supporting cast is also strong, with memorable performances from Yutaka Matsushige as the mysterious security guard and Makiko Kuno as Akiko's colleague.

Using his camera and editing skills to create suspense and tension in these scenes, Kurosawa imbues the proceedings with some truly memorable and inventive kill scenes that will make fans of the red stuff happy with their brutality and realism. Despite its dark subject matter, the film also contains some darkly comic moments and Kurosawa’s ability to find humor in the absurdity of the situations and the characters' reactions to them can help to make the film more bearable for viewers who are not fans of extreme horror.

The Bad

Joseph: The predictability level is high here, but I’d say no higher than most American slasher movies that preceded The Guard from Underground, and this film is obviously using tropes of its U.S. inspirations. Most of us are seeing this for the first time, so if we bear in mind that this is possibly one of the first Japanese attempts at slasher/psychotic killer features — at a time when supernatural horror was more the norm there — I feel that some leeway can be given in the predictability department.

Mike: The Guard from Underground is, honestly, a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it's stylish and atmospheric with a truly unique and disturbing villain. However, on the other hand, the pacing is slow and uneven with a thin and predictable plot.

The film takes its time setting up the atmosphere and characters which sounds good enough, but it often feels like it's dragging with a few scenes that could have been cut without affecting the overall story. Without trying to be too spoilery, there aren't any real surprises or twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged. Whatever message Kurosawa is trying to deliver is a bit muddled and it's not clear what he’s saying about the nature of evil or the human condition.

If you're looking for a fast-paced and action-packed slasher, you're better off looking elsewhere.

The Verdict

Joseph: It’s interesting to see Kurosawa laying some of the groundwork for his future horror efforts here, including eerie mise-en-scène, along with early work from Matsuhige, who would go on to appear in such genre-film efforts as Ringu (1998) and Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999). Recommended for viewers interested in Japanese horror, stalk-’n’-slay film fans in general, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa aficionados.

Mike: If you're looking for a horror film that's both spooky and stylish, then The Guard from Underground is definitely worth checking out.

What really makes this stand out is its unique blend of genres. It's part horror, part slasher, part satire, and part social commentary. Kurosawa does a great job of balancing all of these elements, and the result is a film that's both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Overall, The Guard from Underground is a flawed but interesting film. It's worth watching for its unique atmosphere and brutal kills, but don't expect a masterpiece.

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The Guard from Underground