Yokai Hanta - Hiruko (1990)

Country of Origin: Japan
Year of Production: 1990
Running Times: 89 mins
Format: colour
Ratio:
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Producer: Tsutsumi Kouji

SCRIPT
Script: Tsukamoto Shinya
Comic: Kairyuu matsuri no yoru, Youkai Hunter by Moroboshi Daijirou

DIRECTION
Director: Tsukamoto Shinya

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Kishimoto Masaharu

MUSIC
Music: Umegaki Tatsushi

CAST
Sawada Kenji (Hieda Reijirou)
Kudou Masaki (Yabe Masao)
Ueno Megumi (Tsukishima Reiko)
Takenaka Naoto (Yabe Takashi)
Murota Hideo (Watanabe)
Yo Kimiko (Yabe Akane)
Sano Tomorou
Tsukahara Yasuaki
Yamashita Daisuke
Asamoto Chika
Mitsuishi Ken, Chou Banhou (excavators)
Ootani Ryousuke
Inose Masato
Hayashi Anri
Tsuji Imari
Mitani Yumi

PLOT SUMMARY

Hiruko the goblin emerges from a gateway to Hell built over a school in Japan. Hiruko sets to work gathering heads to attach to the bodies of the spider-like demons that are waiting to conquer the Earth. An archaeology professor and his student are all that stand in Hiruko's way.

An atypical Tsukamoto work but one that's nonetheless enjoyable for all that. The horror and comedy are both rather more ‘mainstream' than one might expect from the creator of Tetsuo, though it's still a might strange experience. Minor Tsukamoto but still one worth seeking out.

Japan
Theatrical Distributors: Kaijuu Theater / There's Enterprise Inc (Japan)

1992
February
Day Unknown: Portugal – shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival

Hiruko the Goblin
Hiruko: Youkai Hunter

SEE ALSO
The Evil Dead (1981)
The Thing (1982)

KEYWORDS

demons, disembodied heads, gateways to hell, goblins, professors, schools, students

Last Updated: 1 March, 2009