In this thrill-a-minute action adventure, Sean Barker (Jack Armstrong) is a college student who discovers the “Guyver”, an alien mechanical device that merges with his own body, turning him into a super-powerful cyborg fighting machine. The device belongs to Chronos, an evil corporation run by human mutants that metamorphize into monstrous soldiers called “Zoanoids”. Chronos badly wants the Guyver back and sends a gang of Zoanoids to kidnap Sean’s girlfriend, Mizuki (Vivian Wu). Sean rescues Mizuki with the help of Max Reed (Mark Hamill), a CIA agent determined to keep the device from falling into the hands of Chronos. However, the rescue attempt is not completely successful, thereby triggering a series of epic battles between the forces of good and evil.

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Video Quality

Unearthed Films presents The Guyver with a tremendous 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K restoration of the Original R-Rated 35mm Camera Negative with HDR10. The film has not been treated the best domestically since it was sent straight to video, but this new release restores it to its intended glory. Even if you are not yet 4K UHD capable, this new release comes with a Blu-Ray sourced from the same 4K master which also looks amazing.

This transfer has been spared any egregious digital manipulation for an organic presentation replete with film grain that unlocks vital textures. Fans will be blown away by the texture on display in the practical costumes and within the production design. The level of detail and clarity newly on display is stunning thanks to the sumptuous amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves well with nothing ever feeling clumpy even within the prevalent shadowy environments. Any specks of damage have been eradicated thanks to the restoration. There are no ugly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts or any other such nuisances.

The deployment of HDR10 for deep and precise color output elevates things to unimpeachable levels when it comes to nuance. Highlights are mighty with no signs of blooming in the brighter moments. Lighting is very intentional from scene to scene, and this disc handles every discrete environmental change with ease. Black levels are a beauty with nothing in the way of crush or banding present even in the dark corners of the screen. Audiences can now ascertain much more shadow detail with figures properly defined instead of blending into the murky background. The special effects are endearingly dated, and they are rendered without manipulation. This presentation is a stellar 4K UHD outing from Unearthed Films.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track and an LPCM 2.0 stereo track which deliver a formidable mix. The effective Matthew Morse score has never sounded more righteous as it is used perfectly to establish the unique tone of the story. There is never a moment when it threatens to overshadow the competing sounds, and it maintains an enviable balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. There are not any egregious instances of age-related wear and tear. This narrative enjoys a complex sound design that becomes very immersive with the surround mix, but the standard stereo mix will likely be the choice for purists. These tracks provide a multifaceted soundscape that deftly captures the artistic intent with a fidelity that is flawlessly realized. Environmental sounds such as weather effects and explosions are rendered effortlessly alongside everything else. Unearthed Films has treated this one with the greatest respect. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: Two commentary tracks are provided by creatives who worked on the film including the co-directors and some special effects team members who break down the creation of the film such as the change in creative direction due to the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the casting of certain figures, the cuts made to the gore, the special effects, translating the source material, and more.
- Audio Commentary #1: Co-directors Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang, moderated by Dom O’Brien, the author of Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films
- Audio Commentary #2: Evil Ted Smith and Wyatt Weed

Interview with Producer Brian Yuzna: A new 36-minute interview with the legendary producer in which he discusses getting into the movie business, first learning about the Guyver property, working with Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang, working to appease the investors, the disappointment over not getting proper theatrical distribution, the editing of the film, and more.

The Altered States of Screaming Mad George: A terrific 57-minute interview with the co-director who discusses his early influences, coming to Hollywood to work for Rick Baker, working on The Guyver, and more.

Suit Tests: A seven-minute camera test of the Guyver suit with commentary from Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang. There is an additional option to have commentary from Evil Ted Smith and Wyatt Weed.

Outtakes: A nearly 15-minute collection of unused footage with commentary from Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang.

Gag Reel: An 11-minute collection of goofy moments from the set with commentary from Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang.

Alternate Title Sequence: An option to watch a six-minute alternate title sequence in English, German, or Spanish.

Promotional Gallery (6:22)

Production Gallery (19:35)

Trailers: There are trailers for the movie provided in English (1:45), German (2:32), Spanish (0:54), and French (2:15).

Soundtrack (19 Tracks)

Final Thoughts

The Guyver is a gloriously cheesy effort that mixes basic comic book sensibilities with the darker genre ambitions of its creative team. This feels like what would happen if you made an R-Rate Power Rangers movie, and we mean that as a positive. The film deserved better than a straight-to-video fate with its blending of genres and delightful practical effects work that presages work that would get more acclaim following this. It is far from high art, but it is pure unhinged fun. Unearthed Films has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a 5-star A/V presentation and a great selection of new and archival special features. If you have a soft spot for this film, don’t miss the ultimate presentation. Recommended

The Guyver (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Unearthed Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.