Demon City: The Next Must-See Action Film for John Wick Fans!

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Summary

  • Demon City is a Japanese live-action film inspired by Oni Goroshi manga, akin to John Wick and Kill Bill.
  • The revenge plot revolves around a hitman avenging his murdered family, featuring intense and graphic action scenes.
  • The official trailer for Demon City showcases incredible martial arts sequences and a compelling storyline.

Viewers are constantly seeking out fresh action films that could potentially match the caliber of movies such as “John Wick”. Streaming platforms like Netflix regularly introduce a good number of action-oriented projects annually, aiming to establish their own successful action franchises. Although some recent productions didn’t resonate with viewers, there were exceptions, like “Extraction”, that carved out a noteworthy niche in the industry. It appears that the streaming giant intends to achieve similar success with its upcoming film, “Demon City”.

The upcoming Japanese live-action film is adapted from Masamichi Kawabe’s “Oni Goroshi” manga series, which was first published in 2020. To date, the mangaka has released over 150 chapters across more than 15 volumes. This story revolves around an assassin who seeks revenge against those involved in the murder of his wife and child. Although there have been many violent films in the past, “Oni Goroshi” offers a distinctive style in its combat sequences that resembles both “John Wick” and “Kill Bill.

Netflix’s Demon City Could Be A Perfect Treat For John Wick Fans

It Is Sort Of A Merger Of John Wick and Kill Bill

Earlier this month, Netflix unveiled the jaw-dropping preview for the highly anticipated film titled “Demon City”. Naturally, it caught the eyes of many enthusiasts, particularly those who can’t resist a dose of intense martial arts action. Directed by Seiji Tanaka and starring Toma Ikuta as the main character, this upcoming production has left us wondering how closely Netflix’s live-action version will adhere to Masamichi Kawabe’s original work. Nonetheless, the trailer suggests that it promises to be as gory and violent as the manga series.

The film centers around Shuhei Sakata, an exceptional assassin who managed to establish a tiny domestic life for himself briefly. Shuhei was contemplating abandoning his lethal profession, but before he could step away, the Kimen-gum organization cruelly took his wife and daughter’s lives, framing him for their deaths and shooting him in the head. Miraculously, Sakata didn’t die; instead, he slipped into a coma that lasted twelve long years. Upon regaining consciousness, Sakata embarked on a vengeful mission to track down and eliminate every member of the Kimen-gum organization.

In the narrative of “Demon City,” the central theme revolving around a hired assassin bears striking resemblance to that of “John Wick.” However, unlike John who avenges his dog’s death, Sakata is driven by the brutal murder of his wife and daughter, explaining his merciless and unyielding nature. Contrasting the refined and structured villains in “John Wick,” the antagonists in “Demon City” don demon masks and engage in heinous acts such as killing and torturing innocents, rather than exhibiting sophisticated behavior.

They say there’s a demon here in Shinjo. It possesses someone, and they go on a killing spree.

It’s striking how the intense action sequences in the Demon City trailer echo those from Kill Bill. Similar to Beatrix “the Bride” Kiddo, Shuhei Sakata is driven by revenge and takes on an entire evil organization to avenge his loved ones. Unlike Beatrix, however, Shuhei wields a hatchet instead of a sword in certain fights. Essentially, Demon City seems to blend elements from John Wick and Kill Bill, and we eagerly anticipate that it will meet expectations and stay faithful to the original content.

Demon City Could Have Been Better As A TV Series

But A Series Of Movies Could Also Work If The Story Is Not Rushed

Typically, we observe that a manga gets transformed into an anime series before moving on to a live-action adaptation. This pattern is familiar to us. However, Netflix is breaking new ground by offering the live-action movie version of Oni Goroshi directly, skipping the usual anime series route. Given that the manga spans over 150 chapters and continues to unfold, it possesses a wealth of content suitable for a complete TV series. If it had been a TV series, creators could have delved deeper into character development and introduced original elements.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I must say that the trailer for “Demon City” has me on the edge of my seat! It’s piqued the interest of countless martial arts aficionados like myself. After watching the preview, it’s safe to say we’re all eagerly anticipating the Netflix adaptation. If the film delivers on the promised action and avoids rushing the narrative or skimping on character development, this could very well become a full-blown movie franchise – maybe even a Japanese take on “John Wick.” But, only time will tell if it has what it takes to become a franchise or if it’ll get lost in the shuffle.

Demon City will stream exclusively on Netflix starting February 27, 2025.

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2025-02-26 02:24