[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ShinKamenRider.gif]]
[[caption-width-right:250:The black sheep of Franchise/KamenRider? Or just covered in [[DarkerAndEdgier dried blood?]]]]

[[SnicketWarningLabel If you think this is a run of the mill take on good and evil, go elsewhere.]]

If not, read on.

''Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue'' is a DarkerAndEdgier DirectToVideo incarnation of the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' franchise released in 1992.

It is the story of Shin Kazamatsuri, a simple young man who's experimented on by his father, Dr. Kazamatsuri, and his father's partner, Dr. Onizuka, at the Institute of Super Science Technology. Rather than contributing to a possible cure for diseases as he and his father believe, Shin is instead unknowingly gene-spliced with Grasshopper DNA. This results in him getting the power to become a Grasshopper-monster himself, which the CIA dubs the "Kamen Rider"[[note]]rendered in the film as "Masked Rider"[[/note]]. This secret puts him and his loved ones in danger from the Syndicate funding the experiment, the ''CIA,'' and Onizuka, who can also transform into a Grasshopper-monster.

While often [[TooBleakStoppedCaring shunned]] by ''Kamen Rider'' fans due to its apparent {{Deconstruction}} nature, Shin Kamen Rider arguably draws heavy influences from Creator/ShotaroIshinomori's original manga interpretation of Kamen Rider, more specifically the ''Series/KamenRiderBLACK'' manga. Sadly, due to lack of interest and the unfortunate death of Ishinomori, it never got past the prologue, leaving the film as a curious example of when early-90's visceral science fiction met a classic Tokusatsu franchise. In recent years, Shin has made several reappearances in the franchise.

Toei Company has now released the film on their official [=YouTube=] channel. You can see it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL2XWMFUFvg here]].

Not directly related to the similarly-named ''[[Film/ShinKamenRider2023 Shin Kamen Rider]]'', a film directed by Creator/HideakiAnno based on [[Series/KamenRider the original series]] -- though, both being BloodierAndGorier re-imaginings of the same concept, there are many similarities.

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!!This work features examples of:
* AbsurdlySharpClaws: Shin has sharp claws on his hands and they are sharp enough to leave gashes on the BigBad's face and severely damage the enemy cyborg. [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Even attempting to give him a handshake for friendship]] can be a very ''painful'' experience.
--> '''Tomoko:''' [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Those High-Vibration Nails can cut anything!]]
* ActionGirl: Sarah Fukumachi, the CIA operative. Over the course of the film she orders a raid on Onizuka's lab (and is the only survivor), saves Shin from a sniping attempt, bursts in on the NebulousEvilOrganization's transport of [[spoiler:the transformed Onizuka]] with a rocket launcher, and most likely would have ''killed'' Shin in the climax had an organization helicopter not gotten in the way. Even after being peppered with bullets by the gunners on the helicopter and dodging missiles, Sarah's still has enough strength to to blow the helicopter to kingdom come with the same rocket launcher, only finally passing out once the chopper is downed.
* AllThereInTheManual: Kamen Rider Shin is ''covered'' with razor-sharp claws and spikes; the Net Movies for TheMovie of ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' bring this fact up, rendering Shin as a PersonOfMassDestruction, to Gentaro's misfortune.
-->'''Fourze:''' [[LampshadeHanging Too many parts of him can cut anything!]]
* AnimalMotif: Shin's design is based on the grasshopper, although in a more "realistic" and BodyHorror depiction.
* AntiHero: Unlike his predecessors from the line of Showa-era Riders, Shin is not a full-fledged hero since he deals with his own struggles against both the Foundation and the CIA.
* ArtifactTitle: Shin doesn't wear a mask, he physically transforms into Kamen Rider, nor does he ride his bike (a Suzuki Bandi 250) in his transformed state.
* ArtificialAnimalPeople: Shin and Dr. Onizoka have been gene-spliced with Animal DNA giving them the ability to turn into Grasshopper-monsters. With all the horrors that entails.
* BadassNormal: For a given level of ''normal''. With the exception of telepathy, there's no need for any other special powers here. All Shin needs is his strength, stealth capabilities, and claws to defeat the enemies.
* TheBerserker: Dr. Onizuka. Surprisingly {{inverted}} with Shin, who, while capable of inflicting horrific damage and violent finishers on his enemies, is for the most part docile until provoked, avoiding confrontation with the CIA after his first transformation, and even embracing his lover Ai Asuka despite his horrific appearance.
* BigBadEnsemble: The [[TheSyndicate ISS]] are the main evil organization Shin has to contend with, but the CIA are also using him for his own ends and eventually plot to dispose of him.
* BladeBelowTheShoulder: In addition to having sharp claws on his fingers, he also has rows of sharp spikes on his forearms that are used for slashing and his FinishingMove.
-->'''Tomoko:''' [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Those Spine-Cutters can cut anything!]]
* BloodierAndGorier: Shin's FinishingMove is to use his Spine-Cutters on his forearm to cut into his opponent's neck, then ''[[OffWithHisHead rip off their head]]'' complete with part of the spine and dripping neon green blood (Eat your heart out, [[Franchise/MortalKombat Sub-Zero!]]) Yes, there actually is a Rider with a more violent attack style than Series/KamenRiderAmazon. His Spine-Cutters can also regenerate and replace themselves spontaneously whenever they break or grow dull (thus ensuring they're always sharp and ready to slice opponents up), and his claws are capable of ripping extremely ragged cuts into the bodies of his enemies.
* BioPunk: The Foundation's work involves creating genetically modified super-soldiers through intense gene therapy.
* BodyHorror: Yeesh. [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Gills]] and [[Series/KamenRiderAmazons Omega]] ''wish'' they could get this level of body horror.
* BridalCarry: Shin carries his girlfriend Ai this way at the end of the movie.
* CreatorCameo: Creator/ShotaroIshinomori is the guy with the afro at the beginning of the movie.
* ClothingDamage: Befitting the fact that Shin's transformation is entirely biological, rather than simply obtaining the gear of his rider form, his clothing is destroyed during each transformation sequence as his body reshapes itself, though anything not torn in the first half of the sequence disappears in time for the sequence to conclude.
* CurbStompBattle: Shin killing the [[spoiler:BigBad who just killed his LoveInterest.]] The former is a grasshopper-monster complete with super-strength, sharp claws and ultra-regeneration powers, the latter is a normal human with a gun who [[spoiler:just murdered the hero's girlfriend.]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Yeah...]]
* CutShort: Despite the fact that the title calls it a prologue, ''Shin'' never went any further than the one movie. ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'''s comedy net spinoff has Shin asking the ''Decade'' cast to help his petition for a sequel, and subsequently finding success and fame [[spoiler:only for the whole thing to be AllJustADream. [[ButtMonkey Poor Shin.]]]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: Much darker than the previous installments of ''Franchise/KamenRider'' at the time, with the only things that come the closest to it in tone being Ishinomori's own manga works. Rather than a traditional cyborg or super-suited human like most Riders, Shin is [[ArtificialAnimalPeople genetically altered]] and undergoes a horrifying transformation. The fight scenes are visceral and bloody, and almost everybody in the film dies.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of the [[HenshinHero henshin hero]] genre. Shins transformation is gruesome and painful, the monsters are incredibly desaturated in their color scheme, and the amount of gore here would make Series/KamenRiderAmazon proud.
* DownerEnding: Everyone save for Shin dies at the end of the film. He then decides to take up arms against the Syndicate and the CIA. All while carrying his [[spoiler:pregnant girlfriend's corpse in [[RayOfHopeEnding hopes of saving their unborn child.]]]]
* DragonTheirFeet: [[spoiler:After Shin kills Himuro, Goushima appears to fight him one last time.]]
* {{Fanservice}}: We get a completely nude scene of the female lead Ai in the shower and swimming naked with Shin, who's also naked.
* FinaleTitleDrop: [[spoiler:The credits show text identifying Shin as the runaway target of the experiments and as the "Masked Rider".]]
* FlowerMouth: The transformed Shin's lower jaw can open and extend into two halves.
* GrayAndGrayMorality: While we do have a BigBad, the CIA will not hesitate to dispose of Shin if he proves uncooperative.
* GreaterScopeVillain: The ISS is just one branch of a mysterious criminal organization called "Foundation". Had ''Shin'' gone past a prologue, they likely would have become the {{Big Bad}}s.
* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler:Shin and Ai's unborn child is revealed to carry the same mutation that Shin received from the experiments and shares a telepathic bond with him.]]
* HealingFactor: When transformed, Shin's wounds can begin healing instantly; his armoured skin can knit itself back together in a matter of seconds.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Ai jumps in front of Shin to protect him from the BigBad. Shin holds her in his arms and she tells Shin that she truly loved him and that it's now up to him to save their unborn child. This causes Shin to grieve for Ai and enrages him towards the BigBad.]]
* IconicAttributeAdoptionMoment: A dark variant. After Shin has defeated Onizuka, the CIA declares him a fugitive, branding him [[GratuitousEnglish Masked Rider Shin]].
* InvoluntaryShapeshifter: Shin, at least initially, has no control over how or when he transforms.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Onizuka's attempts at calling out to Shin for help when his truck gets ambushed by the [=CIA=] end with a rocket launcher to the face from the lead operative from the latter, while Shin transforms for the first time and simply watches him die.
* MagicPants: As mentioned above, Shin loses his clothes when he transforms. However, in the final scene, his pants are back.
* NebulousEvilOrganisation: The Institute of Super Science are a more grounded take on Shocker. They're an underground research center financed by a mysterious criminal organization called "[[TheSyndicate Foundation]]" that conducts various unsanctioned experiments, including ones to create an army of genetically modified grasshopper men.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Shin [[spoiler:gives the BigBad one that makes Kuuga's beatdown of Go-Jaraji-Da look tame in comparison.]]
* OhCrap: In the climax, after awakening from a knockout done by Shin, the BigBad reacts in total fear and freaks out when Shin fully transforms and prepares to attack him [[spoiler: for what he did to Ai.]] He tries to reach for his machine gun, but Shin knocks the machine gun away, leaving the BigBad at Shin's mercy. Shin doesn't forgive him.
* PainfulTransformation: And HOW! Instead of taking a pose and transforming in a flash akin to his prior Showa counterparts, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7TF0KUxnXA Shin instead slowly mutates in a horrific, grueling manner as his entire body reshapes itself]]. It's not very pretty, to say the least.
** During his second transformation, however, he gets a brief scene where he transforms with his arms outstretched, before becoming Shin. This slower transformation [[http://a.mhcdn.net/store/manga/12103/004.0/compressed/q042.jpg?v=1353994021 mirrors the way Kotaro would transform in the manga version of Kamen Rider BLACK.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Shin's eyes are red colored, showing that he is not to be messed with.
* PapaWolf: When Shin finds out that his girlfriend was pregnant after [[spoiler: she's gunned down by the BigBad]], the results are... [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Not very pretty in the slightest.]]
* PsychicLink: Shin and Onizuka [[spoiler:and later, Shin's unborn child]] have one. [[spoiler:It's the reason that for the first half of the film Shin thinks he's been killing people when it's actually Onizuka.]]
* PsychicPowers: Telepathy between ''Kamen Riders''.
* SecurityCling / CooldownHug: After Shin transforms for the first time, he encounters Ai on the road and she exits her car to run to Shin and give him a comforting hug. Shin gently hugs Ai as well with tears in his eyes.
* TaintedVeins: A heroic example occurs during Shin's second transformation.
* StealthExpert: Shin is actually really good at concealing himself when deceiving the enemy cyborg. He uses his environmental surroundings to hide himself until he can find an opportunity to strike the enemy cyborg in surprise.
* SuperStrength: Shin's physical strength when transformed and untransformed is enhanced because of the experiments. This allows him to [[InASingleBound jump higher]], hit harder, and he can even hurl a chair across nearly the entire length of a parking garage with just one hand.
* TranquilFury: Shin has a pretty intense moment of this when [[spoiler: the BigBad guns down his ''pregnant girlfriend''.]] He barely changes his facial expression, but it's almost impossible to not know what he [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown intends to do.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: While Shin is strong in his own movie, in the anniversary movies for Decade and OOO, he fights alongside the other Riders and even gets his own bike, and in All Kamen Rider Generation, where he acts more like a real hero.
* TheUnfought: [[spoiler:Onizuka, who's instead killed off by CIA agents, with his cries of pain as he dies triggering Shin's first full transformation. ]]
* TheVoiceless: Shin, but only while transformed. He does make lower growls and roars though. {{Subverted}} in later appearances in games and movies, where he's able to communicate in a coherent, albeit gruff voice.
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