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WARNING: This movie contains scenes of graphic violence, blood, gambling, physical fights, alcohol drinking, controversial material, sexual content, and gun violence. Viewer discretion is advised! |
映画「ストレガ」予告 Strega - Trailer
Strega (ストレガ) is the 2nd film to be produced by Garage Hero and is a direct sequel to the indie tokusatsu production team's first film, Gun Caliber. Using the resources that he's gathered over an 8 year span, the film's producer and lead actor, Bueno, aimed to shoot Strega as the indie tokusatsu production that he originally envisioned in 2010.
Members of the cast from Gun Caliber once again appear while new characters are introduced with more adult themes, toilet humor, and stylized action sequences at the request of many fans. The film is hailed by many as "Kamen Rider meets Deadpool".
The film made its debut at the Yubari Fantastic International Film Festival in Japan with a full audience and is slated various film festivals around the world later this year. The film was released on home video in 2020 and is available for purchase via movie's official website.
Plot[]
The Japanese government decides to even further regulate superheroes AND the overall populace using the Vector Card, a new ID system.
Vector also happens to be a corporation that has been gradually extending its power behind the scenes. Our hero, Soma Kusanagi, is a foul-mouthed ruffian marked as a persona non-grata by not only the government, but also Vector.
However, he's one of the only people who can equip the "Stray Buckle" which transforms him into the hero Strega. Due to his pariah status, Soma, the former Gun Caliber, is forced to keep his newfound identity of Strega secret from the public eye.
When a mysterious, yet boisterous Vector Card hacker emerges with a sinister plot to turn all of Tokyo into monsters, Soma is partnered up with a new recruit, Sayuri. Tokyo's fate now depends on the two unlikely heroes rising to their greatest challenge yet.
Characters[]
| Strega | Soma Kusanagi |
| Virsago | Sayuri Matsuoka |
Cast[]
- Bueno as "Soma Kusanagi/Strega"
- Mai Miori as "Sayuri Matsuoka/Virsago"
- Sakurako Fujiwara as "Izumi Sakurai"
- Hideki Oka as "Daiki Kato"
- Amita Hachidori as "Madman"
- Ayane Haruna as "Momoyo/Heart Pink"
- Keisaku Kimura as "Sakimori Yamato"
Notes[]
- The film's suits are made by Daisuke Komatsu who has worked on many major tokusatsu productions but also did work on the suits for Houjin Yatsurugi and Gaion Sigma. Komatsu also formerly worked at Rainbow Zoukei, creating the Kaijin for some of the Heisei Kamen Rider shows from Kamen Rider 555 to Kamen Rider Kabuto.
- The film's insert song, "I'll Rise Again" is performed by rock band, Breathing Boost which is formerly known as S.S.P.D. (Steel Squad Police Department), the band that did the insert songs for Kamen Rider Drive.
- The film's producer/director/lead actor, Bueno, trained for 2 years under Mr. Kamen Rider himself: Seiji Takaiwa in preparation for Strega. Takaiwa coached Bueno to fine tune his basics but also introduced him to the art of "Kenjutsu".
- Due to its size and weight, the "Buster Sword" prop is one of the most difficult weapons in Strega's arsenal. Bueno not only had to condition his arm muscles to use it, but worked with Seiji Takaiwa to develop a sword style that would allow for ease of movement in the action scenes.
- While viewers liked Gun Caliber for its fast-paced action sequences, their main complaint was that there wasn't enough of them. Upon taking said feedback, it was decided that Strega will have a total of 6 action sequences as opposed to Gun Caliber's 4.
- The film's female lead, Mai Miori, is a former ballet champion in Europe and has studied contemporary ballet on Broadway. Because of her agility, flexibility, and sense of rhythm, it only took a day for Bueno to train her in the basics of action.
- Hideki Oka (who plays as Vector President, Daiki Kato), is actually the director of many tokusatsu including Ultraman Saga, Madan Senki Ryukendo, Tomica Hero Rescue Force, Tomica Hero Rescue Fire, and Indonesian tokusatsu hero BIMA Satria Garuda/Garuda Knight Bima-X. He's also the producer for Tetsu-Don, an international film circle originating from Japan which brings together both professional and tokusatsu film makers around the world.
- The VFX in Strega is a major improvement from Gun Caliber thanks to the tutelage of VFX director Kiyoshi Hayashi (member of Japanese VFX company, Nippon Eizo Creative) who's work includes various Heisei Kamen Rider shows such as Kamen Rider Fourze, Wizard, Gaim, Drive, Ghost, Ex-Aid, and Build.
- The suit/armor designs were done by Singapore artist Gideon J Goh, who drew promotional art for Gun Caliber. He is also the main illustrator for the cover of the limited edition Bluray and VHS release of Strega.
- Bueno planned an April Fool's joke with the help of many major online blogs in which he claimed to have sold the rights of Strega to Toei. The joke reached out to over 100,000 fans across the globe including Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Upon revealing the joke, many western fans of Toei were infuriated and showed their contempt for the film's production by instigating Garage Hero's SNS. Despite the backlash, Bueno and his crew managed to raise 5k on indiegogo to complete the film. Some saw this as a "desperate attempt at click-bait" while others saw it as a "genius way of promotion".
- The film made its debut at the Yubari Fantastic International Film Festival held in Yubari, Hokkaido, Japan where it was selected as part of the festival's "Core Fanta" lineup. Part of the jury who selected the movie to screen at the festival was Japanese splatter film director Yoshihiro Nishimura (Dir. Tokyo Gore Police, Kodoku: Meatball Machine) who quote un quote said: "We've been wanting a dirty, sexy, toilet humored, adult oriented tokusatsu for awhile now and someone finally had the guts to make one....but he ain't even Japanese." It was also praised by Kamen Rider Blade actor Yuki Kuroda (Kamen Rider Glaive from Blade) with him jokingly saying: "I thought that 70% of the movie was going to be terrible, but was actually really impressed! Two thumbs up!"
Awards and Nominations:
Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival 2019 (Ireland, United Kingdom)
- Best Action Film (Winner)
- Best Grindhouse Film (Winner)
- Audience Choice (Nominee)
- Graeme Livingstone Award (Nominee)
Urban Action Showcase and Expo 2019 (New York, USA)
- Best Action (Winner)
- Best VFX (Winner)
- Best Film (Nominee)
Bloodstained Indie Film Festival 2019 (Tokyo, Japan)
- Best Comedy (Winner)
Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2019 (Hokkaido, Japan)
- Official Selection (Core Fanta)
Cinema Oriental 2019 (Cataluna, Spain)
- Official Selection
External Links[]
- Strega Official Website
- Garage Hero Official Website
- Strega on IndieGoGo
- "Garage Hero Announces New Project: Strega" (JEFusion)
- "Garage Hero's Strega continues to look like a bloody good time" (Japanator)
- "Who wants to see an adult version of Kamen Rider? We do." (Amped Asia)
- "Cocked, locked and ready to rock, STREGA does not need your permission to be awesome" (Film Combat Syndicate)
- "Bueno's "Strega" Conquers Yubari XXVII" (Film Combat Syndicate)
- "IN GOOD COMPANY: A Word With Maverick Tokusatsu Filmmaker, STREGA Star/Director, Bueno" (Film Combat Syndicate)