The Guard From Underground (Japan, 1992)

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse was one of the highlights of the J-horror boom in the early 2000s. Its sheer bloody nihilism spoke to me, and I’ve been a fan of Kurosawa’s work since. While not all of his films have appealed to me as much, features like Cure, Seance, and Retribution certainly did. So when I saw one of his early features pop up on Shudder, I knew The Guard From Underground had to be on my list this year.

The Guard From Underground is currently streaming on Shudder in the UK.

Synopsis

Akiko Narushima has picked a bad day to start her new job, researching art investments for wealthy clients. This is also the day Fujimaru has begun work in the same company as a security guard. What no one has yet realised is that Fujimaru is a former sumo wrestler who avoided prison for murder on grounds of insanity. Whoever vetted him for this job must have been distracted.

Narushima’s other colleagues aren’t ideal either, especially her eccentric boss, whose hobbies include sexual harassment, bullying, and being wrong about pretty much everything. Of course, the number of colleagues dwindles as Fujimaru starts murdering them, which saves Narushima the effort of learning their names. Fujimaru begins slowly, but it isn’t long before he has the building on lockdown and goes full Michael Myers.

Can Fujimaru be stopped? Is there any motive behind his murderer spree? And how might cutting-edge technology like faxes and telex save the day?

General Thoughts

There is a lot more comedy in The Guard From Underground than I expected. For a film about a giant security guard violently murdering people, it’s largely a parody of Japanese office culture, with etiquette making the staff easy pickings. The situation could be resolved easily, but no one really wants to rock the boat.

The murders are only part of the dysfunction in this environment filled with bullies and weirdos. Eccentric characters are a big part of what makes The Guard From Underground work. The standout is obviously Narushima’s sleazy boss and his complete disregard for personal space, but there are plenty of other oddballs around. The head of security’s reluctance to make a fuss about the murders, at least partly out of politeness, is both absurd and depressingly convincing.

Fujimaru may not quite be in the major league of cinematic slashers, but he does have his appeal. Just the way he towers over everyone, stony-faced and taciturn in the midst of chaos, makes him monstrous. He kills seemingly without reason, but there is some animalistic pattern to his bloody endeavours. This bestial side extends to his having a lair in the basement, wires strung throughout like some monstrous spider’s web.

Verdict

The Guard From Underground is perfectly entertaining, and I very much enjoyed its satirical side, but it falls short as a horror film. For a film about a mass murderer killing his way through an office, there is surprisingly little tension.

Unlike, say, Bit, the slow introduction really works here. There isn’t any blood or violence for the first 30 minutes, but Narushima’s introduction to her dysfunctional workplace is amusing, and it stops the victims from feeling interchangeable or disposable once the killing starts.

If you are new to the films of Kiyoshi Kurosawa, maybe don’t start with this one. It’s a fun little oddity, and definitely worth seeking out if you’re already a fan, but it’s not the best introduction to his work.

The October Horror Movie Challenge

Please do join in and share your own thoughts with us about this or any other films as the month goes on. You can usually find us on Twitter, BlueSky, Reddit, Discord, or lurking in the dark corners of your home.

If you would like to play along at home, my provisional selections are:

We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (USA, 2021)
Tales That Witness Madness (UK, 1973)
When Evil Lurks (Argentina, 2023)
Under Paris (France, 2024)
In a Violent Nature (Canada, 2024)
Torso (Italy, 1973)
Titane (France, 2021)
Rorschach (USA, 2015)
The Coffee Table (Spain, 2024)
Dr Caligari (USA, 1989)
Bit (USA, 2020)
The Guard From Underground (Japan, 1992)
Oddity (Ireland, 2024)
Speak No Evil (Denmark/Netherlands, 2022)
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (USA, 1982)
Grave Torture (Indonesia, 2024)
Bedlam (USA, 1946)
The Innsmouth School For Girls (USA, 2023)
Daddy’s Head (UK, 2024)
All You Need Is Death (Ireland, 2024)
Eight Eyes (USA/Serbia, 2021)
Poor Things (Ireland/UK/USA, 2023)
Seven Deaths in the Cat’s Eye (Italy, 1973)
Longlegs (USA, 2024)
Night of Fear (Australia, 1973)
Stopmotion (UK, 2024)
Terrifier (USA, 2016)
Azrael (USA, 2024)
Faust (Germany, 1926)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Hong Kong, 1991)
I Saw the TV Glow (USA, 2024)

A Final Note

If you have been enticed here by these posts, please do look around at some of our other film reviews. We also have a podcast, called The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, which occasionally covers horror films. If this appeals, you might want to check out some of the following episodes.