Versus | 2000
"Versus" is a 2000 Japanese zombie action film directed and co-written by Ryuhei Kitamura. Produced as an independent co-production by Kitamura's company, Napalm Films, in collaboration with Webco Productions, KSS, and Suplex, the film follows an unnamed prisoner, an unnamed woman, and her Yakuza kidnappers as they battle zombies in a forest. The Yakuza's mysterious leader seeks to unlock a supernatural portal hidden in the woods to gain dark powers.
Originally conceived as a sequel to Kitamura's short film "Down to Hell," it was redeveloped into a new film. Principal photography, initially planned for three weeks, was extended to seven months due to weather and financial issues.
"Versus" premiered at the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival on October 29, 2000, and in 2004, an extended version titled "Ultimate Versus" was released, featuring ten additional minutes of footage and enhanced music, effects, titles, and editing.
The film's narrative is set against a backdrop where Earth has 666 portals connecting to other worlds. Many are tempted by the dark powers these portals hold. One such portal, known as the "Forest of Resurrection," is the 444th portal located somewhere in Japan.
In the 10th century, a lone samurai defeats a horde of zombie-like samurai creatures but is soon confronted and killed by a mysterious priest and his warriors. Just before dying, he sees a comrade he failed to save.
In modern Japan, two prisoners escape through the forest and encounter a Yakuza gang. One prisoner, KSC2-303 (played by Taka Sakaguchi), becomes suspicious of the gang's intentions toward a kidnapped girl, Chieko Misaka. After a violent confrontation, he kills a gang member, who then resurrects as a zombie. Amid the chaos, KSC2-303 flees with the girl into the forest, pursued by the Yakuza.
As they hide, KSC2-303 discovers a man crucified on a tree. He takes the man's clothes and confronts another Yakuza member. As they fight, the bodies of those the Yakuza have killed rise as zombies. KSC2-303 and the remaining Yakuza are forced to cooperate against the undead.
As the zombie horde grows, the Yakuza summon three assassins. The Yakuza leader (Hideo Sakaki) arrives, furious about losing KSC2-303 and the girl. The Yakuza and assassins initially gain the upper hand but are soon overpowered by the resurrected leader.
KSC2-303 demands to know what is happening. The leader reveals that they are reincarnations and intends to use the girl as a sacrifice to unlock the portal and harness its dark powers. Unable to accept this, KSC2-303 attempts to kill him but is killed instead.
Before the leader's henchmen can capture the girl, she feeds KSC2-303 her blood, reviving him. In a flashback, he remembers being the comrade who failed to save the samurai. Facing overwhelming odds, he reluctantly kills the girl to prevent the leader from gaining power. The enraged leader brutally kills KSC2-303, who finally comprehends the truth of his past life.
The next morning, KSC2-303 confronts the leader and his remaining henchmen. After defeating the henchmen, he beheads the leader and rescues the girl, escaping the Forest of Resurrection.
Ninety-nine years later, Earth lies in ruins. The leader's reincarnation wanders through the remnants of a city, encountering the reincarnated versions of KSC2-303 and the leader's gang, now serving KSC2-303. The girl, captured again, tells the leader that she should have sided with him 99 years ago. With nothing left to destroy in this world, KSC2-303 asks the leader to take him to another world, and they charge at each other, beginning another battle.
Originally, "Versus" was intended as a sequel to Kitamura's amateur short film "Down to Hell," planned to be shot on a low budget for video release, but ultimately shifted to a $10,000 budget for theatrical film production.
Kitamura gathered funds independently, borrowing from friends and family, as producers deemed making an action film with him impossible due to time and budget constraints. Filming, originally slated for three weeks, was extended to seven months due to weather and financial challenges.
Taka Sakaguchi was cast in the lead role after Kitamura saw him in a comedy video. Kitamura claimed he hired Sakaguchi primarily for his "beautiful smile," while Sakaguchi contended that they first met during a street fight. Kitamura proposed that instead of fighting on the street, Sakaguchi could fight in a film.
In the North American DVD/Blu-ray audio commentary, Kitamura stated that "Versus" pays homage to films like "The Evil Dead" and "Highlander." He cited inspirations from Sam Raimi, John Carpenter, and George Miller, combining elements of gunfights, martial arts, kanbara swordplay, zombie horror, and comedy. Kitamura felt this could be his first and last film, choosing to incorporate elements that influenced him. He remarked, "This is entirely me. It's totally Ryuhei Kitamura style, and I’m not trying to change or avoid anything. I just want to get better."
The film was not officially titled "Versus" until shooting was completed. During production, it was referred to as "The Return: Down 2 Hell," but there were no plans to release it under that name. A friend of Kitamura, who was then working as a second unit director on "Godzilla," suggested the title "Versus," symbolizing the struggles he faced throughout his life.
"The title 'Versus' was only decided at the end of filming. We were still using 'Return to Hell: Down to Hell 2,' but that no longer fit, and we couldn't think of a good title. At that time, my best friend, who was with me when I went to Australia at 17, suggested 'Versus,' saying that I've been fighting all my life and that this film is yours."
— Ryuhei Kitamura, in an interview with Midnight Eye.
