The Threat is a gritty crime drama in the vein of Kurosawa’s High and Low, set against the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing Japan that has left many of its citizens behind.
Misawa (Rentarō Mikuni; Fugitive from the Past, Vengeance is Mine) appears to lead a charmed life, the very model of Japan’s post-war economic miracle. His position as the account manager of a prestigious advertising agency is enough to pay the mortgage on the spacious modern house he shares with his wife (Masumi Harukawa, Intentions of Murder) and their two young boys, kitted out with all the latest mod-cons. Then one day, the fragility of his existence is revealed when two violent jail-breakers turn up on his doorstep seeking refuge and threatening to embroil Misawa in their criminal activities.
Arrow Video presents this little-seen early masterpiece from Kinji Fukasaku, the future director of Battles without Honor and Humanity and Battle Royale, for the very first time outside of its own country in a stunning new transfer.
For thoughts on The Threat, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
The Threat comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Arrow Video sourced from a strong HD master provided by Toei in the original 2.35:1. The grain field can be a little mushy when surveying the open-air exteriors, but much of the film takes place inside and the grain is resolved well. The contrast is firmly defined, although the slightest bit of print damage can be found in sporadic moments of the presentation. Black levels are appropriately deep with no egregious signs of black crush or compression artifacts.
There is a favorable amount of detail present with grand texture on the clothing and in the production design. The beautiful black-and-white photography shines in high definition with no signs of overwhelming noise reduction to rob the picture of its organic appearance. The cinematography by Yoshikazu Yamazawa has been brought to life with stunning richness. The quality of the transfer is exactly what you hope for and Arrow Video will make audiences very happy with this.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles). Dialogue emanates clearly without sound effects or the score trouncing on vital information. The score from Isao Tomita comes through nicely in relation to the competing sounds. The film deploys a few notable sound effects that are given the appropriate weight within the mix, but these moments are very brief. The film is first and foremost a gripping, dialogue-driven drama without much in the way of action. This is not a particularly hard-hitting presentation, but it presents everything accurately with pleasing fidelity and without damage or other unwanted issues.
Special Features
The first-pressing of the Arrow Video Blu-Ray of The Threat includes a booklet featuring the essay “Compromise and Complicity, the Costs of the Salaryman Dream” by writer Hayley Scanlon. This piece provides a great analysis of the film through its themes, its place in the career of Kinji Fukasaku, its critical reception, and more. There is also a double-sided foldout poster included in this package. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Audio Commentary: Japanese Film Expert Tom Mes provides a very informative commentary track in which he provides background to the career of Kinji Fukasaku, how this fits into his output, the studio system of the time, the themes of the picture, and more.
- Warning Warning Danger Danger: A new 19-minute appreciation piece from critic and Japanese film specialist Mark Schilling in which he dives deep into the narrative to explore the themes, the performers who bring it to life, what it says about the time it was made, and more.
- Trailer: This disc provides a two-and-a-half-minute trailer.
Final Thoughts
The Threat is an engaging home invasion crime tale that keeps you invested in the characters without resorting to unnecessary exposition dumps. The direction of Kinji Fukasaku is measured and deftly handled throughout the narrative. The crime brings out the worst in all involved, and watching how the situation unravels is fascinating. Arrow Video has released a Blu-Ray featuring a very good A/V presentation and some nice special features. If it sounds interesting to you in the slightest, it is well worth a look. Recommended
The Threat will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on September 24, 2024.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Arrow Video 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
