Ultra Q No.29: Darkness is Coming!

Ultra Q No.29: Darkness is Coming!
Information
Starring	Joe Suzuki Naoki Hirohata Yuki Komatsu
Release Date(s)	1980
Country of Origin	Japan
Language	Japanese
Running Time	44 min
Directed by	Takashige Ichise
Produced by	Takashige Ichise
Written by	Takashige Ichise Takeshi Suzuki (original draft)
Distributed by	Ichisekai
Continuity
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Production/Release
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Ultra Q No.29: Darkness is Coming! is a 1980 fan-made short film based off Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Q. The film was made by Takashige Ichise, who later became involved as a producer in the Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis and Ju-on series. The film was shot on 8mm film and was screened in 1980 at the Ogikubo Community Center as part of the '80 Amateur 8mm Tokusatsu Festival, hosted by "Neo-Ferrus." However, after that, the film was never officially released.

According to the brochure, the film was screened alongside The Red Chamber, a movie directed by Ichise and adapted from a short story by Edogawa Rampo.

Production

Currently, detailed information about the film remains unknown. However, according to Ichise in Uchusen Vol.2, during production, although many interesting ideas kept emerging, the various issues in actual production completely crushed them. Even after burning the midnight oil night after night, the script made no progress. He even remarked, "Ultra Q seems to have transformed into a monster, appearing at my window every night and watching me with a sneer."

The original cast of Ultra Q: Kenji Sahara, Hiroko Sakurai, Yasuhiko Saijo, Akihiko Hirata, and narrator Koji Ishizaka—appeared in the film as guest cast. Since its brief screening in 1980, however, the film has not been publicly released due to the wishes of those involved.

Synopsis

Daily News photographer Yuriko has been investigating the sudden disappearance of scientist Akihiko Ichimaru, who vanished ten years ago. After receiving a tip from her old friend Tsukamoto, she learns that Ichimaru’s research facility is located on Iwakura Island. Accompanied by Hoshikawa Air Service pilot Jun and Ippei, she sets off for the island.

Guided by Tsukamoto and a local police officer, the three visit the research facility, only to discover that Ichimaru has already died. The police who found his body are also mysteriously killed. As a typhoon strikes the island, bringing violent winds and heavy rain, the four find themselves trapped inside the facility—alongside an unknown threat...

Cast

• Joe Suzuki
• Naoki Hirohata
• Yuki Komatsu
• Tadayoshi Maeda
• Takayuki Satake
• Kenji Sahara (special guest)
• Yasuhiko Saijo (special guest)
• Hiroko Sakurai (special guest)
• Akihiko Hirata (special guest)
• Narration : Koji Ishizaka

Staff

• Director, screenwriter and producer: Takashige Ichise
• Original draft: Joe Suzuki
• Assistant producer: Jun Nishii
• Music: Kunio Miyauchi

Gallery

Trivia

• According to testimonies from viewers who have seen the film: It is said that the film was once screened at a showing held in the “Space 50” theater in front of Ebisu Station, where a video of interviews with Kenji Sahara and others was first played, followed by the main feature.
• The film was also shown at an event at Nakano Public Hall on August 14, 1981, together with Ichise's Riso Kyoden Densetsu. Reportedly, a signing event with Yasuhiro Saijo was also held at that time.