Wicked City

In late 20th century Tokyo, Taki is a human "Black Guard" who is assigned a female partner, Makie, from the parallel "Black World" dimension, whose denizens have monstrous forms and special powers, but can adopt human appearances. Their job is to guard the thousand-year-old mediator, Guiseppe Mayart, as he prepares to preside over peace treaty negotiations between the human dimension and the Black World.

The diminutive Mayart's predilection for sex and fun leaves him open to attack by Black World "radicals" who seek to derail the peace process. Makie has to fend off assaults by two former lovers from the Black World and is abducted and raped by one group of radicals. Taki leaves Mayart in order to rescue Makie and is ordered off the job by his supervisor.

Driving away on their own, Taki and Makie are attacked by monsters again, only this time they are saved by Mayart who reveals his super powers. The two are enveloped in a cloud of white energy and wind up in a dreamlike state in a church where they make love. Mayart arrives and explains that it was his job all along to protect the two because they have been chosen, by virtue of their genetic makeup, to create a cross-dimensional baby to increase the chances for interdimensional co-operation. After one last battle with Black World monsters on the roof of the church, the two lovers leave to create a new world of love and harmony between the two races.

Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (DEMON CITY SHINJUKU, NINJA SCROLL)--one of a handful of innovative Japanese animators striving to give anime a new look--WICKED CITY is especially noteworthy for its nightmarish cityscape and surreal backgrounds. The sci-fi noir tone is underscored by Taki's voice-over narration and frequent drives through nighttime city streets and deserted highways. The Black World characters dress like typical underworld denizens--gangsters and hookers--dropping their human facades in an instant to reveal gaping jaws, gigantic slashing claws, and rapacious tentacles. With their deadpan expressions and sleek character design, Taki and Makie seem fairly normal against such a background.

The frequent doses of sex and violence will attract some viewers because of their exquisite rendering and baroque character, while repelling others because of their misogyny. Although Makie is a strong, assertive character, she's subjected to repeated, brutal rapes--including one by a monstrous tentacled parasite--leaving a foul taste which even the romantic ending can't erase.

A live action remake of WICKED CITY was produced in 1993 by Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark. Toning down the sex and violence while pumping up the romanticism, it offered stylish production values and extraordinary makeup effects to match the other-worldly tone of the animated original. (Graphic violence, nudity, sexual situations, profanity.) leave a comment