I Am a Hero | Blu-ray & DVD (Funimation)
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2018
On July 24, 2018, Funimation will be releasing the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for I Am a Hero (read our review), a Japanese zombie movie by Shinsuke Sato (Gantz, Gantz II: Perfect Answer).
Based on the celebrated horror manga, I Am a Hero, comes a live-action film adaptation that’s bound to get your blood flowing! Thirty-five-year-old assistant manga artist Hideo Suzuki leads an unsatisfying, tedious life. But when a virus outbreak hits Japan turning the infected into mindless cannibals, it’s his chance to become the hero he’s always daydreamed he could be, even if it kills him.
I Am a Hero stars Yo Oizumi (Tokyo Ghoul), Kasumi Arimura (Narratage), Masami Nagasawa (Gintama), Hisashi Yoshizawa (The Blue Hearts), and Yoshinori Okada (Oba: The Last Samurai).
Pre-order I Am Hero from Amazon.com today!
Great news that this is getting a release stateside.
Here’s my review from letterboxd.com:
I AM A HERO (2015)
Somehow this one flew under my radar, but my friend Paul’s review over at cityonfire.com alerted me to its existence. I am so thankful for that, because my wife and I just watched it and it’s great! One of the best Japanese (or for that matter, from any country) horror films I’ve seen in a long time.
Our “hero” is a timid sad-sack that is working as an artist-for-hire on other people’s manga (Japanese comic-books) while his own story ideas are continuously rejected. His lady has had it with his lack of progress, booting him from their apartment, and it seems like life can’t get any worse… but it does. There is an outbreak of a virus that uh… lets just say- it makes people a bit aggressive. Extremely, insanely aggressive… and… hungry for human flesh.
If you’re even a casual fan of the horror genre I’m sure this plot sounds pretty familiar. But the difference here is… it’s got some real scares, thrills, and new and exciting things to show you. I won’t say more about the story or details because I don’t want to spoil anything.
Technically it’s a very impressive film, from its music, cinematography, acting, and a fantastic mix of practical special makeup and digital FX work. Tonally it takes the viewer on genre-hopping roller coaster ride, including drama, horror, character study, intense action, thriller, and sprinkled throughout with dark humor as well. The story elements are the least developed, but the nature of the film doesn’t call for intricacy in that department.
As someone that feels like FEAR THE WALKING DEAD needs to be flushed down the toilet, I was very happily surprised to get some good “zombie type” entertainment. It’s VERY bloody too. Highly recommended. 4.5/5.0
(The Hong Kong Blu-ray release includes English subtitles) – Kung Fu Bob
I haven’t been this excited to see a Japanese film in a long time!