Mechanical Violator Hakaider (人造人間ハカイダー, Jinzō Ningen Hakaidā) is a 1995 Japanese tokusatsu film directed by Keita Amemiya. A Continuity Reboot and Spin-Off of Kikaider, the film features Hakaider in the role of an anti-hero as opposed to usually being portrayed as a villain.
Tropes
- Adaptational Heroism: Hakaider goes from being a villain in the original to a '90s Anti-Hero.
- Adaptational Villainy: Kikaider was a superhero in the original. Here, it is implied Gurjev turned Kikaider into Michael.
- All There in the Script: While dubbed Ryo in the credits, Hakaider is never called this in the film.
- Alternate Continuity: To the original 'Kikaider'' tokusatsu TV series.
- Badass Biker: Hakaider rides around on a black motorcycle called "Guilty".
- Big Bad: Gurjev
- Black-and-Grey Morality: On one side, you have Gurjev, an evil dictator who uses Mind Control chips on anyone that disagrees with them or have them killed. On the other side, La Résistance want to overthrow the dictatorship. However, they are corrupt and selfish only being concerned about themselves and being freed to do whatever they want.
- Broken Record: After Hakkaider kills Michael, his severed head is stuck muttering “I am justice” on a loop.
- Canon Character All Along: Michael is a seemingly original character who rules over Jesus Town alongside Gurjev. The climax of the film ultimately reveals him to be a heavily modified Kikaider, implied to have been reprogrammed by Gurjev to obediently enforce his twisted justice.
- Mechanical Violator Hakaider: The Last Judgement reveals Gurjev is actually Blue Hakaider from Kikaider 01.
- Citadel City: Jesus Town is surrounded by a huge wall. Hakaider gets in by blowing up the gate.
- Comic-Book Adaptation: This film received four contemporary manga adaptations.
- Cool Bike: Guilty, Hakaider's motorcycle.
- Darker and Edgier: The film runs on Black-and-Grey Morality.
- Dark Messiah: Gurjev talks about how he wants to create perfect society and take care of the citizens of Jesus Town. In practice, his "care" involves demanding absolute loyalty; and either killing or implanting mind control chips into anyone that doesn't obey him.
- Director's Cut: The complete version of Mechanical Violator Hakaider was released in 1996. It was broadcast on Toei Channel in 2014.
- The Dragon: Michael is the right hand man of Gurjev.
- False Utopia: Gurjev talks about perfect Jesus Town is. In reality, Jesus Town is Gurjev's personal dictatorship where he implants Mind Control chips into people who commit crimes.
- La Résistance: Kaoru and her friends try to be this. They all get killed.
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Licensed Game: A game based on the film called Mechanical Violator Hakaider: The Last Judgement was released for the Sega Saturn exclusively in Japan on December 27, 1996. Its story taking place 10 years after the original film's events. - Not Worth Killing: Hakaider says these exact words to him after destroying Michael before turning away. Despite this, Gurjev doesn't take the hint and tries one last time to attack him while his back is turned, leading to his demise.
- Phlebotinum Rebel: Hakaider was originally built by Gurjev to act as his Dragon but developed free will. Gurjev was going to destroy him only for an unnamed scientist to save Hakaider.
- Silence Is Golden: Several scenes play out with no sound, purely to show off the impressive visuals.
- The Voiceless: In his human form, Hakaider never speaks. He also seems more passive in human form.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The movie never explains what happened to the scientist that stole Haikaider or how he ended up in the prison.
- Early in the film, there is a man handcuffed to a briefcase being chased by Malevolent Masked Men before Michael saves him.
This is never mentioned again.
- Early in the film, there is a man handcuffed to a briefcase being chased by Malevolent Masked Men before Michael saves him.
