Humans are no longer at the top of the food chain|Jul. 16, 2017|Japan|119 Min.|TV-MA
Genre: Action;Adventure;Drama;Horror;Kids;Mystery;SuperHero;Thriller
Description: Tokyo Ghoul, released in 2017, is a Japanese film adaptation of the popular manga series. The story unfolds in an alternate world where ghouls, creatures that can only survive by consuming human flesh, coexist with humans while concealing their true identities to avoid detection by authorities. The protagonist, Ken Kaneki, is an ordinary college student who becomes a half-ghoul after being attacked by his date, Rize Kamishiro, who is revealed to be a ghoul. Following the incident, Ken undergoes surgery in which Rize’s organs are transplanted into his body, forcing him to adapt to a life where he must consume human flesh to survive. The film follows his struggle to navigate the ghoul society while keeping his new identity hidden from his human friends.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 80% approval rating based on 15 reviews, with an average score of 6.35/10. Gabriella Ekens of Anime News Network praised the cinematography and the strong performances of the cast, particularly Masataka Kubota, though she criticized the CGI effects used for the ghouls’ Kagune. Mark Schilling of The Japan Times awarded the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, while Andrew Chan of the Film Critics Circle of Australia noted that the excessive gore and violence overshadowed the plot and character development. Dread Central described it as a “beautiful but flawed adaptation,” and Variety highlighted its appeal to fans of the original manga, despite technical shortcomings. The South China Morning Post called it ambitious but felt it faltered in its execution, devolving into conventional confrontations. Film School Rejects concluded that while the film aimed to attract newcomers, it failed to leave a lasting impression.
Cast director: Kentaro Hagiwara
Cast actor: Masataka Kubota, Fumika Shimizu, Nobuyuki Suzuki, Yo Oizumi, Yu Aoi, Hiyori Sakurada, Kunio Murai, Kai Ogasawara, Shunya Shiraishi, Shôko Aida
Original name: 東京喰種 トーキョーグール