Guyver: Dark Hero (1994)

Director:

Steve Wang

Writers:

Nathan Long (screenplay)
Steve Wang (story)
(more)

Release Date:

20 April 1994 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Sci-Fi's Most Powerful Alien-Human Hybrid Returns!

Plot:

Sean Barker became the unwilling host to an alien bio-armor known as the Guyver. A year ago he destroyed the Kronos Corporation...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Lizard Monster | Gang | Severed Head | Multiple Monsters

Cast

David Hayter	...	Sean Barker
Kathy Christopherson	...	Cori
Bruno Giannotta	...	Crane
Christopher Michael	...	Atkins
Stuart Weiss	...	Marcus
Billi Lee	...	Mizky
Jim O'Donoghoe	...	Gouo
J.D. Smith	...	Doug
Alisa Merline	...	Brandi (voice)
Wes Deitrick	...	Volker
Veronica Reed	...	Sten (voice)
Stephen Oprychal	...	Bob
Ann George	...	Gail (voice)
Marisa Cody	...	Mary (voice)
Kristin Calkins	...	Lois / Primitive Guyver (voice)
Shaun T. Benjamin	...	D.C. (as Shant Benjamin)
Koichi Sakamoto	...	Sakai
Butch Portillo	...	Bo
Ken Goodman	...	Dino
Brian Simpson	...	Benny / Voker Zoanoid / Crane Zoanoid
Gary Willis	...	Rafe
Wyatt Weed	...	Donnie
Nathan Long	...	Cop #1
Lisa Hannan	...	Cop #2
Jim Patterson	...	Reporter
Christopher J. Bradshaw	...	Grau
Vern Roguen	...	Mazzo
Mark Ritchie	...	Kronos Security / Ranger
Mike Curtis	...	Kronos Security
Ellis Moore	...	Crusty Old Man
Russ Kingston	...	Impatient Hick
'Evil' Ted Smith	...	Commando / Stenzoanoid / Mazzo Zoanoid (as Ted Smith)
Dean Satkowski	...	Commando
Mike Hood	...	Rangers
Mark Tobler	...	Rangers
Anthony Houk	...	Guyver
David McDonald	...	Marcus Zoanoid
Scott Putman	...	Corben Zoanoid
C.D. Post	...	Monk Zoanoid
Tatsuro Koike	...	Guyver Zoanoid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vernon Roguen	...	Mazzo

Directed by
Steve Wang

Writing credits
Nathan Long		(screenplay)
Steve Wang		(story)
Yoshiki Takaya		(characters)

Produced by
Ray Cecire	....	line producer
Ken Iyadomi	....	executive producer
Hirohiko Suekichi	....	executive producer
Yutaka Wada	....	executive producer
Steve Wang	....	producer
Wyatt Weed	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Les Claypool III

Cinematography by
Michael G. Wojciechowski		(director of photography) (as Michael Wojciechowski)

Film Editing by
Russ Kingston
Steve Wang

Casting by
Lisa Hannan

Production Design by
George Peirson

Art Direction by
Coburn Hawk

Costume Design by
Jennifer McManus		(as Jem Jennifer McManus)

Makeup Department
Brian Wade	....	creature effects
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Tamara Noland	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chen Chow Mein	....	first assistant director
Mike Wang	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jeff Himmel	....	art department
Paul Pistore	....	model maker

Sound Department
Mark Allen	....	dialogue editor
Mark Allen	....	sound effects editor
Jeff Floro	....	foley recordist
Mark Setrakian	....	sound effects editor
Ken Strain	....	boom operator
Stephen Tibbo	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Sandy Collora	....	concept artist
Moto Hata	....	creature effects
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects coordinator
Steve Wang	....	creature effects
Gary Yee	....	creature effects

Visual Effects by
Mykel Denis	....	model maker
Rick Hilgner	....	model maker
Bret Mixon	....	main title animation
Ted Rae	....	miniature photography
John Teska	....	computer graphic imaging
John Teska	....	visual effects
Gary Young	....	model maker

Stunts
Ken Goodman	....	stunts (as Kenn Goodman)
Tatsuro Koike	....	stunts
Akihiro Noguchi	....	wire rigging
Koichi Sakamoto	....	stunt coordinator
Koichi Sakamoto	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Steven A. Adelson	....	Steadicam operator (as Steve Adelson)
Sean Cohen	....	gaffer
Warren Feldman	....	first assistant camera: miniatures unit
Stan Giesea	....	videographer
Stanley B. Gill	....	gaffer: second unit
Tamara Goldsworthy	....	second assistant camera
Eric H. Lasher	....	still photographer
Brooks Robinson	....	Steadicam operator
John Sekula	....	assistant camera
Forrest Thurman	....	first assistant camera

Other crew
Lisa Hannan	....	office manager
Mark Ritchie	....	set medic
Koichi Sakamoto	....	fight choreographer: Alpha Stunt Team
Deborah L. Velarde	....	script supervisor
Larryann Willis	....	production attorney

Production Companies

• Biomorphs Inc.

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Line Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Spentzos Film Home Video (1995) (Greece) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  opticals

Also Known As:

"Guyver 2: Dark Hero" - USA (video box title)

Runtime:

Australia:118 min | UK:100 min | USA:127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:16 (cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Angeles National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Biomorphs Inc.

Trivia:

Although the previous film received a PG-13, this film received an R. Notable as many film series have transitioned away from the R-rating, but fewer have transitioned to the R-rating.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the heroine is being rescued by her transformed father, the jack lifting the jeep can be seen as he lifts the front end.

Quotes:

Sean Barker:So, um, why'd you come back?
Corey:Because I'm a scientist. I know what it's like to need to know.

Movie Connections:

Features Kung Fu Rascals (1992)

Soundtrack:

Be with you

A Significant Improvement

As a fan of the anime, and its far better comic book source material, the first live-action Guyver was a painful experience. Surely any "Power Rangers" criticism is more applicable to that first film, with its campy dialogue and fight scenes, silly-looking creature designs, and overblown ending battle. While it hits a surprising number of plot points from the source material, it's a bad movie.

Guyver 2 still has some goofy Zoanoid designs, mediocre acting, and distorts the relative strength of human, Guyver and Zoanoid to keep a human fighter from becoming scenery and to keep the Guyver from plowing through too many rubber suits the movie couldn't afford. But it takes itself more seriously and employs some Hong Kong-style wire work and just a little CG to show you why the Guyver stands above the Zoanoids. This film too covers many major plot points from the manga comics, taking some liberties to bring together elements of the very beginning and very end of the comic's U.S. release and provide a satisfying ending battle.

Dark Hero makes just one direct reference to the preceding film that might justify a viewing. But if you followed the comics closely enough to be interested in the movies, you'll get it anyway and can spare yourself some suffering. Guyver 2 is a much improved film with some solid cult film qualities and enough substance to bring in fans of the Japanese original as well as the folks who stumble into decent B-movies channel surfing through evening cable.

6/10