Ghost Killer review: A hilarious, electric action comedy with a ghostly gimmick from the team behind Baby Assassins

The all-star team behind the excellent Baby Assassins franchise is back with another banger, the ridiculous and entertaining supernatural action comedy Ghost Killer, from writer Yugo Sakamoto (who wrote and directed the Baby Assassins movies) and director Kensuke Sonomura (who designed the action on those movies). Featuring terrific action choreography, likeable characters, and a lead actress with superb control over every part of her performance, it’s a great time that is now available for digital rental or purchase on VOD platforms.

On her way home from a disappointing night out, college student Fumika (Akari Takaishi, also one of the Baby Assassins) finds and pockets a stray bullet casing on the ground. As a result, she starts seeing the ghost of legendary hitman Kudo (Masanori Mimoto), who was killed by that bullet. To rid herself of his ghostly presence, the two have to work together, seeking revenge on his killers (and maybe, just maybe, learning just a bit about themselves along the way).

The fun genre concept allows for many clever ways for the pair to work together – after they figure out how it all works. (“This is my first time being a ghost”, Kudo explains to Fumika with some exhaustion, and he’s disappointed to find out he can’t fly). But as they figure it out together, the rules end up being pretty straightforward – she’s the only one who can see or hear him, and he can possess her body if they clasp hands – and people catch on very quickly to her situation, allowing things to move at a satisfying pace. When it’s time to fight, Kudo will typically offer Fumika his hand and use his hit man skills to beat his opponent (all while learning how to fight with her frame). That gimmick gives a lot of opportunity for Takaishi to dig in as an actor, as whenever there is another character in the scene who can’t see Kudo, she ends up playing both parts, talking to (or arguing with) herself as college student + hitman. She’s brilliant at it, able to alternate between youthful naivety and dangerous confidence. But their unique partnership also opens up other opportunities – when sneaking around, Kudo can scout ahead without being seen, even yelling warnings or instructions back to Fumika without being heard.