Tokyo Ghoul

Dir Kentarô Hagiwara, Japan 2017 On limited UK release from 31 Jan With 2017’s lamentably tone-deaf Hollywood live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell still haunting the pop-cultural subconscious, Japanese live-action adaptations of manga and anime are a more welcome sight than ever. While

Tokyo Ghoul may lack the artistic panache of, for example, Takashi Miike’s adaptation of Blade of

the Immortal, this version of the supernatural manga and anime still has sufficient visual and narrative appeal to please fans of the source material; and fans of Japanese cinema in general may find the film compelling if their interest is piqued by the subject matter. The pacing is slow but smooth, taking its time to establish the world of Tokyo Ghoul and the people who inhabit it. The main character, Ken Kaneki, is well portrayed, however the emphasis is almost solely on his disgust at being a ghoul rather than balancing it with his increasing embrace of his powers. Thankfully, the supporting characters make up for the shortcomings of Kaneki’s transfer from the source material to the big screen, with the assertive Touka being a particular standout among the protagonist’s ghoul posse. Once we reach the finale, it does to some extent go off the rails tonally, resulting in some of the final confrontations falling a bit flat. However, as a whole, Tokyo

Ghoul is a likable and faithful adaptation that will doubtless please fans familiar with the narrative style and tone associated with the original. Leyla Mikkelsen