Ghost Killer 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Ghost Killer 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 22, 2025

Akari Takaishi has proven herself to be quite affable in both the comedy and action arenas as one of the two titular Baby Assassins, and in fact some might argue that this film could have quite easily been branded as Baby Assassin 4: Ghost Killer, since Takaishi plays much the same sort of deadpan humor butt kicking smackdown artist she does in the aforementioned series, albeit here as the "victim" of a possession by the spirit of a departed hitman. Ghost Killer also offers another collaboration between Kensuke Sonomura and Yugo Sakamoto of the Baby Assassins franchise, although here in different roles than before (in Baby Assassins, Sakamoto directed and Sonomura action choreographed, while here Sakamoto writes and Sonomura directs). All of the foregoing along with the possession angle may make this film end up playing like one part (singular per that preceding snarky joke) Baby Assassin and one part Goodbye Charlie, with an arguably even smarmier subtext than was present in that old George Axelrod film featuring Debbie Reynolds "possessed" by Tony Curtis. Fans of the Baby Assassins films should therefore find this an appealing if hardly innovative enterprise.

It's at least arguable that Takaishi is more of the comedy relief in the Baby Assassins outings while her partner in crime in that series, Saori Izawa, who gets to literally show off her chops probably a bit more than Takaishi's character, which is not to suggest that Takaishi hasn't already demonstrated considerable skill in some seemingly highly choreographed action sequences in all three of those films. Here, though, she's more unavoidably front and center as initially confused student Fumika Matsuoka who, after picking up a shell casing used to dispose of hitman Hideo Kudo (Masanori Mimoto), ends up being psychically tethered to Kudo. At first there are some kind of silly vignettes documenting Fumika's "visions" of a "ghost", but the two soon find out that a more primal connection is possible, something that allows Fumika to, well, kick into high gear.

That becomes not only useful but necessary after Fumika finds out her best friend Maho (Ayaka Higashino) is being beaten by her boyfriend. Fumika's "acquired" particular set of skills of course predictably become even more necessary once Hideo informs her that she will need to kill his killer in order to exorcise Hideo from her life. There is a videogame kind of feeling to the ensuing carnage, as Fumika has to basically take out a series of intermediary nemeses before getting to the "final boss". The result can't help but feel repetitive, not only with regard to "outside" if obviously linked properties, but even within the context of the film itself, since much the same thing keeps happening recurrently. Maybe a little surprisingly, then, this film, while not at the manic if enjoyable levels of at least the first Baby Assassins, has at least intermittent energy in both the comedy and action elements.

Ghost Killer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: While this is a standalone 4K release without a 1080 disc, I am offering screenshots from Well Go USA's standalone 1080 release of Ghost Killer as I think it actually provides a better representation of the look of the palette in particular, rather than offering screenshots from the 4K disc which are by necessity downscaled to 1080 and in SDR. Because this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Ghost Killer is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Well Go USA with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. I haven't been able to find any authoritative information (or actually much information of any kind) on this shoot, and though I freeze framed several moments in the Making Of EPK on the 1080 disc, I wasn't able to clearly identify a camera. The IMDb lists a 2K DI as the sole technical data point as of the writing of this review, for those interested. This is a really appealing looking presentation one way or the other, one that doesn't especially try to mimic the look of film in any significant way but which offers sterling clarity and great looking fine detail levels virtually the entire way through. The film has a rather interesting and at times maybe slightly quirky palette which gets a real burnish with the HDR / Dolby Vision grades. Some bar material features gorgeous reds, and there are a number of other scenes in either the orange or yellow territories that have some beautiful highlights here. Fine detail sees some subtle but observable upticks from the already excellent levels in Well Go USA's 1080 presentation, and for just one recurrent example, keep an eye on the textures of the fabrics on Fumika's succession of knit caps.

Ghost Killer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ghost Killer has an impressively immersive Dolby Atmos track in the original Japanese. Per the seeming requirements of this kind of action oriented fare, things get off to a literal bang with a set piece leading to Hideo's death, and which offers convincing engagement of all of the surround channels, providing a propulsive accounting of a lethal pounding and shooting. When the film segues to Fumika's story, there are a number of nice uses of the surround channels in vignettes in a bar (including yet another smackdown) and quite a bit of outdoor material, where ambient environmental sounds are well placed. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and French subtitles are available.

Ghost Killer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Kind of interestingly if I suspect disappointingly for some prospective consumers, Well Go USA has packaged this 4K UHD disc without any supplements. Those interested can consult my Ghost Killer Blu-ray review of Well Go USA's 1080 release, since it's the atypical 1080 release from this label that actually has a pretty substantial EPK as the main bonus item.

This release does offer packaging featuring a slipcover, something the 1080 review copy sent to me didn't have.

Ghost Killer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Well Go USA seems to be moving more and more into MOD "burnt" BD-Rs for their 1080 releases, but commendably when they do choose to release a 4K UHD disc, it often tends to have solid technical merits, and that's once again the case here. The film may seem unavoidably derivative, especially considering its star and some of its creative team, and some fans may be disappointed by the omission of the longer than average EPK included on the 1080 disc, but things look and sound great for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.