Ghost Warrior (1984) User Reviews (13)

"Action thrills from the makers of Troll!"

[tarbosh22000 · 5/10 · 12 July 2010]

"Action thrills from the makers of Troll!" Yoshimitsu (Fujioka) is a Samurai in 1500's Japan. A duel goes awry and he falls into a frozen lake. When some skiers discover his frozen body in the 1980s, Yoshi is shipped to L.A. supposedly for an autopsy at the California Institute For Cryptosurgical Research. The building is inexplicably gigantic. Dr. Richards (John Calvin) decides to revive him and it actually works.

Yoshi is helped by Chris Welles (Julian), a scientist who speaks some Japanese. She befriends him, but when a greedy orderly tries to steal Yoshi's swords, the orderly is killed and Yoshi escapes into the go-go 80s.

What will happen to this ancient warrior in the modern world? Yoshi sees a helpless old man being menaced by a gang of 50 year old punks and, true to his samurai code of honor, decides to intervene. The guns and knives of the AARP punks can't compete with Yoshi's top quality samurai swords.

Fujioka is excellent as Yoshi. He brings much more class than is needed to this Charles Band production. He looks at cars, lamps and TVs like they are new and strange things. He is totally believable doing this. A movie highlight comes when he sees metal band W.A.S.P on a TV and gets scared.

Two humorous bits are when, firstly, the character of Burger is introduced. He is a lazy, cigar-chomping slob and provides some mild chuckles. Secondly, when Yoshi enters a sushi restaurant, a man exclaims: "It's Toshiro Mifune!".

The character of Chris narrates the tale. Is it necessary? Only you can be the judge. One of the more interesting aspects of Ghost Warrior is how Yoshi's old life parallels his new life. The film cuts back and forth between the two.

According to the back of the VHS box on the Lightning label, Ghost Warrior is in the "Time warp tradition of Iceman!" We would also add Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991) and Encino Man (1992).

The movie is somber and somewhat mediocre. There's not a lot of action until the end and is worth seeing for the performance of Fujioka and not much else.

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Imaginative samurai timewarp concept.....

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 20 March 2008]

Instead of trotting out a generic plot, "Ghost Warrior" is propelled by it's imagination. Suspend disbelief, sure, but this "fish out of water" scenario works. The story is straightforward and almost fable-like. The introduction of an honorable 16th Century fighting arts master to the sometimes dishonorable reality of modern Los Angeles, inevitably forces confrontation. An ancient warrior, re-animated by science, must battle for his life. The film is beautiful, especially flashbacks to the samurai's past. No better than average acting is easily forgiven, because the imaginative script holds your interest. Recommended for anyone looking for something out of the ordinary. - MERK

Decent but lacking in real excitement

[milkhole213 · 5/10 · 4 September 2022]

Ghost Warrior is a low budget fish-out-of-water story about a 400 year old Samurai who is resurrected in 80s Los Angeles which would probably even confuse a person being only resurrected after 40 years. Despite being paired by Shout/Scream Factory with the more horror oriented The House Where Evil Dwells this is in no way a horror film but more of an action/thriller drama with light sci-fi elements. This is competently made and looks good but it's just a film with little momentum or urgency and nothing feels important and any excitement is muted. The cast is decent though no one looks familiar or seems memorable. The main girl is cute and looks like a young Denise Richards. She starred in the decent slasher Humongous but I didn't recognize her here. Thankfully there's no love story between her and the samurai as she just tries to guide him through modern day L. A. A romantic subplot would have dragged down an already unexciting film. This film was so low budget they couldn't even afford a "notable" Asian actor like George Takei, James Hong or Pat Morita. Yes, I know one of them isn't Japanese but like any American can tell the difference just by looking at them. Any who claims otherwise is a liar and a scoundrel.

The film mostly slogs along with the samurai having awkward encounters with home invaders, idle motor vehicles and a TV playing a WASP video. At one point he encounters a gang and despite this being an independent film it's one of those multi-cultural gangs mandated by Hollywood propagandists. He saves an old black man from them including cutting off a hand in one of the films few gory scenes. This assault made me think of the recent story of poor, old 73 black man, James Lambert who was murdered with traffic cones at 3 am on the streets of Philadelphia. His attackers weren't young adult multi-racial men but a savage, feral gang of 10-14 year old male and female black "children". A disgusting and vile story almost completely ignored by the media. Sorry James your black life didn't matter because it was ended by people who weren't pale enough. The kindly old rescued black man takes the Samurai to a sushi restaurant which is kind of hilarious. He's mistaken by a couple there for Toshiro Mifune proving again that all East Asians look alike to Americans. Eventually the plot gets going as the scientists who resurrected him try to hunt him down. They want to kill him and make it look like he was never revived so they can't be blamed for his murderous rampage.

Ghost Warrior is decent but just never gets very exciting. There's some violence including a severed hand, knife to the eye and other sword slashings. One person is killed in a samurai/motorcycle duel but they drop the ball not showing the person's top half flying off with blood showering all over. Instead they just show you him lying on the ground with some blood oozing from his mouth. Another way they drop the ball is when the girl feeds him a cup of Ramen noodles. We never get to see his reaction to see how they might compare to ancient Japanese cuisine. Are cheap Ramen noodles just as good as Asian food from hundreds of years ago? We'll never know because this movie just isn't that well thought out. This is R-rated but the violence isn't especially graphic though it has to be the only reason for the R-rating as there's no drugs, sex/nudity and only mild profanity. There's a few racial slurs as the gang calls him things like "Banzai" and "Nip". Nip makes me think of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine exposes herself unknowingly in a Christmas card. The Ghost Warrior title isn't really appropriate and only mentioned during the movie as him being a "ghost" from the past that doesn't belong in this era. An alternate title in the trailer is Swordkill which is kind of cool but also bland. This movie is also kind of cool but also bland. 81 minutes is plenty long for this. It's basically a movie to watch when you don't want too much excitement and just want to relax with something safe and mostly inoffensive.

Good, but not the best

[KmnRdr · 28 June 1999]

This movie was pretty good, but not the best samurai movie. Hiroshi Fujioka, an excellent actor, did portray a samurai better than most actors have in past movies. Infact, Fujioka gave one of the best samurai performances of all time. He really knows his stuff. But it's the plot that keeps this movie from being one of the best samurai movies. And some of the acting is rather bad from Fujioka's supporting cast members. Hiroshi Fujioka is the main reason to see this movie. Mr. Fujioka used a REAL katana in this movie, which is rare in movies to use a real weapon.

Nearly awful

[rtberg · 2/10 · 14 October 2008]

A moderately interesting start, some pretty scenes in sixteenth-century Japan, and a promising idea. But the execution? The comparison that springs to mind after about fifteen minutes is "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death." Really. A specialist in "Oriental history" who doesn't speak any Japanese, walks on tatami without removing her shoes, and is generally dumb as celery? Please. This looks like a student film: the sets are risible, the acting (except, perhaps, for the title character) close to wooden, the plot utterly arbitrary. At least "Cannibal Women" was funny! This is best watched with someone who knows something about Japan, just to watch disbelief repeatedly crawl across their face.

Real Samurai example!

[Vlad-27 · 7/10 · 20 May 1999]

American cryosurgeons tried to anatomize frozen body of Yoshimitsu Taga, the great samurai general of 400 years ago, then found he had been in suspended animation. Occasionally, a guard of the institution tries to steal the priceless katana(samurai sword) of resurrected warrior, to be slashed with the very treasure. Yoshimitsu wanders about modern American town, happens to slay street gangs with guns to save an old man. Yoshimitsu is living in laws and morals of ancient war age, so that is very natural to him. But cryosurgeons want to kill him secretly to avoid trouble, and of course, police force tries to shoot him down...

You can easily see how silly the plot is, however, I recommend this film. The samurai in this film is REAL. Actor Hiroshi Fujioka is genuine sensei of swordsmanship, so he knows how to use katana and how a samurai think, feel and act in a strange situation. Fujioka's presence made this lame plot a memorable tragedy.

Magnificent and sad music by Richard Band is another salvation of the feature.

DO NOT waste your time.

[markadmoore · 1/10 · 21 October 2020]

The idea might have been good, the story might have been good, the movie might have been good but ... NONE of it was. The hardest thing to do, apart from sitting through it, was trying to decide who was the worst actor. I sort of forgive the samurai, after all, he'd been dead for 400 years, so acting and movies were new to him but no one else can be forgiven!

1984? More like 1948.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Karate Kid, American Graffiti, Beverly Hills Cop, Romancing The Stone, The Terminator, The Philadelphia Experiment, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Natural, to name just a few and we had Ghost Warrior??? I reckon it was made in 1964, completely forgotten about until someone stubbed their toe on it and decided to release it to punish the rest of us for his sore toe!

Samurai on the rocks

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 7 June 2022]

A samurai named Yoshimitsu (Hiroshi Fujioka, the original Kamen Rider) is overwhelmed in battle and falls into a frozen lake where he freezes over the decades before skiier find his body. Soon, Dr. Richard (John Calvin) forgoes the traditional autopsy and revives the swordsman with some blue lights and introduces him to a modern world he can't come close to understanding even with the help of an Asian studies expert named Chris Welles (Janet Julian, Humongous). Then one night, a janitor breaks in and tries to steal the thawed Japanese swordsman's katana and gets sliced in half, sending Yoshimitsu on the run (but not before listening to watching the WASP footage of them performing "Tormentor" from The Dungeonmaster).

He wanders Los Angeles, saves an old vet (Charles Lampkin) from a street gang and getting into no small manner of trouble. Unlike so many frozen out of time movies, things in no way go smoothly or end happily.

Also known as Swordkill, this shot in Richmond, Virginia film was one I've been trying to find for some time. It was co-produced by Arthur Band, who must have had a calming influence on Charles for this one (Richard did the music making this a Band family effort).

It was directed by J. Larry Carroll, who edited Roar, Dracula's Dog, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Massacre at Central High and The Hills Have Eyes before writing Tourist Trap and tons of cartoons, as well as directing only this one movie and written by Tim Curnan, who wrote the wonderful Forbidden World.

It's 81 minutes long which is exactly how long this movie should be.

This film cannot exist. It is a ghost, a phantom, or a hoax...

[lowlandermg · 4/10 · 13 June 2023]

A whiskey stream of consciousness review.

Cool exteriors of Motosuka, Japan in the intro scene. As preposterous as the beginning sequence is (knowing the premise). There is a mythical quality that is appealing. Music has some similarities to Red Dawn and First Blood, which is funny, as it is composed by Richard Band, brother of Charles Band (Full Moon Studios). That said, the score is the best and most consistent element of the film. The idea that they could revive a centuries old samurai frozen in ice without brain damage is beyond our current capabilities and requires quite the suspension of disbelief. The fact that it is a cryogenic research facility is a nice touch though, knowing that the hope for revival is in future technological advances and many of todays elite technocrats are fully invested in it. The film borrows a bunch from the film Iceman starring Timothy Hutton. The samurai is much cooler than the caveman, tho me thinks. Having the samurai discover tv for the first time with W. A. S. P. "Tormentor" Playing is a nice touch. Hiroshi Fujioka does a pretty good job of showing curiosity as well as a propensity for the human instinctual gift of understanding in an alien timeline. As much interest as the beginning of the film inspires, the last half hour grinds and seems to lose any of its original inspiration-probably due to lack of budget. There just isn't enough compelling action or memorable scenes to tie the story together. Disappointing with what started with potential. Slashed with a dram of Old Soul (full proof store pick). Cheers!

A very good movie, better than its score indicates.

[iwanna_know · 8/10 · 14 July 2003]

When I first saw this movie, I was quickly taken by it and impressed. Sure it was a low budget movie and I wasnt expecting Gone With The Wind, but I certainly was not expecting as much bang for the buck as I got. I recommend this little jewel to anyone who is willing to watch it. You would not be disappointed.

"There are no second chances."

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 22 January 2016]

In 16th century Japan, an efficient and fearless Samurai named Yoshimitsu (Hiroshi Fujioka) is wounded in battle after his sweetheart has been killed. He falls into a body of water and is frozen for over 400 years. Then, in the 1980s, his perfectly preserved body is discovered, shipped to America, and he is soon revived, to adjust to a different time in history and a different culture. A journalist named Chris Welles (Janet Julian) tries to protect him from those that would do him harm.

"Ghost Warrior" is definitely a notch above the typical Empire Pictures fare. Produced by Charles Band, written by Tim Curnen ("Forbidden World"), and directed by J. Larry Carroll (co- writer of "Tourist Trap"), it works largely because it's able to downplay comedy and take its premise fairly seriously. It also works because it allows Fujioka to play his time travelling warrior with a great deal of dignity. This doesn't mean that it's without a sense of humour, but it never gets overly campy or cheesy.

Granted, more could have been done with scenes of Yoshimitsu experiencing 1984 L.A. (among other things, he discovers cars, tires, TV sets...and the heavy metal band W.A.S.P.). The character of Alan Richards (John Calvin) is rather ridiculous what with the about-face that he pulls. And the movie ultimately loses a bit of momentum in its final act.

Still, it's appealing, and earnestly acted. The lovely Julian ("Humongous", "King of New York") is a fine leading lady. Fujioka does have an effective screen presence. Veteran Charles Lampkin (Arch Obolers' "Five") is extremely likable as the senior citizen who attempts to befriend Yoshimitsu. Bill Morey ("Death Race 2000"), Andy Wood ("Rambo: First Blood Part II"), Robert Kino ("Night of the Creeps"), and Peter Liapis ("Ghoulies") co-star.

"Ghost Warrior" has a solid, atmospheric opening and a very nice music score by Richard Band. It actually gets pretty gory at times.

Worth a look for 1980s cult cinema enthusiasts.

Eight out of 10.

500 years ago deadly samurai Yoshi was left for dead, in 20th century L. A. he's woken up completely on the wrong side of his head!

[Weirdling_Wolf · 8/10 · 25 October 2021]

For all its modest running time, the unfairly neglected 'Ghost Warrior' (1984) is, for me at least, one of Empire Pictures more fascinating and singular productions, much like the iconic, neon-bright Sci-fi mash-up 'Trancers', 'Ghost Warrior' is a low budget, boldly inventive Sf/Chanbara hybrid about an enigmatic protagonist from an alternative time-line adrift in the greatly disorientating milieu of 20th century Los Angeles. Yoshi (Hiroshi Fujioka) an esteemed Samurai Warrior from 16th century feudal Japan is Rod Serlinged into a discombobulating diorama of unfamiliar technologies, amusingly prototypical B-Move Gang-bangers, a strange, oppressively vast city with its perplexing multitudes of baffling cultural incongruities, a burgeoning love affair that spans centuries, and the shock rocking sounds of L. A. metal warriors W. A. S. P all coalesce to make Yoshi's fateful sword-slashing exodus such a quixotic B-Movie delight! Two splendidly engaging lead actors, another nifty score by maestro Richard band, and some sanguinary Samurai showdowns made me a hardcore believer, man! 500 years ago deadly samurai Yoshi was left for dead, in 20th century L. A. he's woken up completely on the wrong side of his head!

Um, Where's the Ghost Exactly?

[Michael_Elliott · 1 January 2013]

Ghost Warrior (1986)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

The body of a 400-year-old samurai (Hiroshi Fujioka) is found frozen in Japan so it's moved to Los Angeles where a secret agency brings it back to life. It doesn't take long for the samurai to escape and start killing off some bad people but a reporter (Janet Julian) goes along with him to try and protect him from the agency who wants him dead before anyone finds out what they did. GHOST WARRIOR comes from producer Charles Band so that should tell you to expect a low-budget, silly story and nothing too spectacular. This here is a pretty strange film because it's clearly just trying to cash in on the success of other martial arts movies but I'm not sure who this film was aimed at. The story itself is somewhat sci-fi but those elements are never really explored. The martial arts stuff takes up a good portion of the running time but there's so much more that could have been done but isn't. Early on we get a campy scene where a bunch of punks are picking on an old man and then the samurai comes to his rescue. These scenes are pure camp and they are fun and help make the picture interesting. These scenes also contain some campy violence but sadly moments like these are so far apart from one another. The relationship with the reporter is just downright silly and never really adds up to anything. It's too this stuff wasn't eliminated in favor of more action. GHOST WARRIOR is the type of "C" picture most people are going to be expecting but it's too bad a little more effort wasn't put into it because we could have had a fun camp film.