TACFEST III Review: In SEEK, Shane Kosugi’s Directing Debut Scratches The Ninja Movie Itch

If you visit websites like ours and you’re fond of the genre that this platform largely covers, you’re probably into ninjas. This isn’t me making sweeping judgements or assumptions, but you likely enjoy ninja cinema to some degree or another. That only means that a film like Seek is right up your alley, as our own Mike Garcia found out for himself in his own preliminary review of the film ahead of its TACFEST premiere earlier this year where he also served as a juror.

Directed by Shane Kosugi from a script by lead actor Kansuke Asano, the film’s title centers itself in a version of Japan where the titular organization acts as the latest evolution of ninja – a covert non-federal organization tasked with dangerous assignments aimed at protecting the nation. Kyohei (Asano) is its most elite and respected agent, and serves accordingly despite a life left stagnant by tragedy over the death of his girlfriend.

The film takes off as Kyohei’s latest mission from the organization sees him infiltrating a notorious Yakuza clan to rescue a fellow agent. The job also includes acquiring more details about a deadly chemical liquid explosive set to exchange hands. The mission unravels with tragic consequences and shocking twists, revealing betrayals by multiple players, forcing Kyohei to question who his allies are between battles, all leading up to a final showdown with vengeful clan boss, Sojiro, played by Shane’s brother, actor and martial artist Kane Kosugi.

Seek is the latest succession of a proof of concept short revealed a few years ago which now extends to a larger narrative. The result is a comprehensive, modestly budgeted, exponentially fleshed-out thriller that knows exactly what it is and delivers the goods, tinkering with fantasy and titilating with thrilling ninja action and excitement.

Asano and his co-stars bring sheer strength in the film’s drama, culminating Kyohei’s immediate network of fellow ninja ranging from colleagues Yuki (Mikako Yoshida), Daisuke (Tomohisa Yuge), and Sayuri (Miyu Ogawa), and leader Ryo (Nahana), to his beleagured connection with frienemy and rogue ninja, Yo (Yasuaki Ishii). The film is also complimentary in its efforts to illustrate the kind of grip Seek has, or more importantly, the control and influence of its leadership, which is also worth bearing in mind in the first of a few key moments between Kyohei and Yo.

Co-star Kosugi’s role is a measured take on maniacal crime bosses of his ilk. I love that he’s come into his own as an actor worthy of different roles instead of pigeonholing himself into a single genre. Ten Shimoyama’s Blood Heat is Kosugi’s most standout performance in the hero vain, so when he gets to take a stab as the villain in films like Ninja 2: Shadow Of A Tear, it’s a fun watch getting to see what he does. It’s a mild and measured, albeit crackling take on the kind of role that would have you flashing back a little to that one scene with Robert De Niro and the bat in The Untouchables. You might know the one.

The action design and set pieces in Seek are also fun to watch, coming from Ishii who serves as action director, and action coordinator Yugo Fujii who also gets some screentime in the film. Ideally, at least one scene could have used better continuity in terms of lighting, while another sequence would have fared better without the use of CG explosion graphics.

Again though, Seek is a movie from a director who knows exactly what he’s making, which makes the rest of the action comestible for viewing, comprised of almost the kind of choreography you’ll love if you’re a fan of the kind of output from the likes of Kensuke Sonomura and Kenji Tanigaki of late. Ninja spectacle is practical when it can be, which makes the action much more organic and easy on the eyes, even during one of the moments of the climatic finale in which Kosugi films our protagonists in a 3.5 minutes oner. I’ll also add that you get to see Asano, Ishii, and Fujii in a sweet matchup in the third act.

I’m pretty sure I’ll have more to say about Kosugi in the near future. He also produced Yutaka Kainuma’s Barashi Fight which I’m aiming to check out before long. In the meantime, it feels good to know that the hype of the ninja subgenre hasn’t fizzled. In the wake of films like Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins and Ninja Assassin, and Isaac Florentine’s Ninja films which have otherwise left a void among fans wanting more and possibly better, Seek, and its upcoming sequel with Kosugi helming for both, certainly fills it.

Seek enjoyed its award-winning premiere at the third edition of the International Toledo Action Film Festival & Expo.