While those with some understanding of the source material will get more out of Shin Masked Rider, it’s an exciting outing for anyone looking for something a bit fresher from their hero movies. It’s more violent than you’d probably expect, often showing the grisly outcome of regular people getting punched by superpowered cyborgs and monsters, but never gratuitous. However, unlike the original, Anno’s approach taps into the body horror of the core concept, while also challenging his characters-and audience-to hang onto their intrinsic humanity in the face of a world trying to dehumanize them.
and forcibly converted into a powerful cyborg, Hongo escapes before being reprogrammed as an agent of the group, instead using his newfound powers to take down its forces.
Kidnapped by the terrorist organization S.H.O.C.K.E.R. Like that show, it follows motorcyclist Takeshi Hongo (Sosuke Ikematsu). Helmed by Hideaki Anno ( Evangelion, Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman-“shin” meaning “new” or “true” in Japanese), this revamps the 1971 TV series Kamen Rider. If you’re sick of cookie-cutter Hollywood superhero movies, then this ground-up reboot of one of Japan’s most beloved heroes deserves your attention.
