Movie REVIEW: Kamen Rider Gavv: Guilty Parfait

Whilst one could argue that Kamen Rider Gavv ended on a fairly satisfying note, there were still plenty of plot threads left open to be explored in future instalments. Something that's been mandatory for Kamen Rider for well over a decade now, as there needs to be something to cover in the obligatory V-Cinext epilogue movie. As also tends to be the standard for these films, Kamen Rider Gavv: Guilty Parfait shines the spotlight on the series' secondary and only (heroic) human Rider - Hanto Karakida, aka Kamen Rider Valen. The one-hour film was written by Gavv's main writer Junko Komura, and directed by Takayuki Shibasaki.

Some time after the fall of Stomach Inc and the connection between the human and Granute worlds was severed, Hapipare continues to help rehabilitate Granutes who have found themselves unable to go home. Meanwhile Hanto has begun experiencing severe chest pains - stemming from the Granute gland impact that allows him to transform into a Rider.

One day after helping some injured girls, Hanto meets a doctor working at a shady clinic for those for whatever reason unable to attend a normal hospital. The encounter also leads him to Lizel Jaldak, who has been quietly living amongst humanity since her father's death. Not only these events reveal a sinister plot to bring back Dark Treats, but also herald the arrival of Izik Perut - a Granute seeking revenge against Bocca. The Riders are called into action once more, but how can they help save a girl they took everything away from? And how much time does Hanto have left?

Similar to Kamen Rider Gotchard: Graduations, before jumping into the main story Guilty Parfait opens with a small short centred around the Gochizo. Gochizo Morning Assembly is just as its name suggests, as the Caking Gochizo assembles the candy-themed trinkets and they describe their recent activities through the art of cartoon cutaways and clips from the main series, before they line up to dance to opening theme "Got Boost?". At only a minute long there's next to nothing to say about it story-wise, but it's an immediate reminder of just how much Kamen Rider Gavv goes out of its way to characterise the Gochizo (Gavv walked so Gavan Infinity could run), as well as the staying power of a good merchandising gimmick.

The secondary or tertiary Riders are always good choices to front an epilogue movie, but in Gavv's case Hanto feels like a particularly special choice because of what he represents in the series. As the only human among its trio of heroes he is constantly shown as being at a disadvantage, but powers through thanks to his sheer will and determination. His story of vowing to exterminate all Granutes as vengeance for killing his mother is also one of the most well-rounded in the series, eventually resolving to break the cycle of hate and offering Jiip and Lizel the same opportunity. Unfortunately the pair refuse, ultimately leading the Jiip's death and Lizel being left with nothing. Guilty Parfait explores the fallout of this, with our heroes thrust into a situation where they now have to protect someone they once called their enemy. Other aspects of Hanto's journey also loosely play into this, such as his guilt over being unable to save his mentor Soji and his resolve to be the kind of man who can save people the same way Soji once saved him. Despite still having plenty of Rider action, it's a far more character-driven story that focuses in on the main cast's emotional state. The added element of Hanto's surgery slowly killing him also adds an extra element of drama to the story, particularly in a post Zero-One landscape where main characters aren't necessarily safe from death. And if the show itself wasn't enough to convince you of how great a character Hanto is, then Guilty Parfait will definitely get the job done. Between his heartfelt speeches and drive to do what's right and save people even at the expense of himself, Hanto is the ideal Rider through and through.

One of the standout aspects of the film however is that it doesn't sugar-coat any of the characters' emotions nor does it aim to completely resolve the animosity between them. Shoma and Hanto sympathise with Lizel for the situation that she's in and show responsibility for their part in it, but they don't ever express regret for their actions. Likewise Lizel never shows any remorse for her part in trying to turn humanity into a food source despite now finding herself in a very similar situation. It's a far more nuanced approach that feels more realistic than a conventional redemption story, and the film really has to work to make Lizel a more sympathetic character. In the series she was spoilt, manipulative and thoroughly unlikeable in the way a good villain should be. Here she's completely broken, cut off from her home and having lost everyone who ever loved her. Her previous actions aren't intended to ever be forgiven, but as Hanto once said - it's about breaking the cycle of hate and simply doing the right thing for someone in need.

 

Guilty Parfait playing on the more emotional aspects of Gavv's story also provides a good opportunity to utilise one of its most important but often underappreciated characters as well. Despite never directly taking up the fight herself Sachika proved herself time and time again to be the emotional linchpin of the show, and the time she spends with Lizel here continues to prove that the case. Much like she did with both Shoma and Lakia, she's the one who's able to bring Lizel out of her shell and fully expose just how vulnerable she's become. Both Nozomi Miyabe (Sachika) and Elena Kamata (Lizel) really shine in these moments, creating a friendship it's a shame we don't get to see more of. While there is an argument to be had about the representation of women in the franchise, whether or not they ever become a Rider shouldn't negate the impact the have on the story without that aspect coming into play.

Although the villains of the film don't get a huge amount of development by token of all being wholly new characters, they do at least all have backstories/motivations with varying degrees of interest. Guguna is perhaps the weakest and most forgettable of the three, with his plan to bring back Dark Treats the kind of motivation that could have been carried out by any Granute with lingering addiction. While it works as an underlying plot that puts everything else into motion, the character himself doesn't really have any remarkable aspects outside of being a bat-themed Granute - that particular animal significant for monsters across the Kamen Rider franchise (though admittedly not especially here). Izik Perut's scheme to kill Lizel in place of Bocca isn't particularly deep, but it does play into that core "cycle of revenge" element - Izik simply unable to let go of his hatred for the Jaldaks despite the death of his main target. The character being the son of the Granute Bocca assassinated and used for Nyelv's experiments is a nice touch that ties it back to events from the series, but ultimately doesn't add that much to the overall story. But undoubtedly the most interesting of Guilty Parfait's villains is its human accomplice, who in return for his services wishes to dine upon the flesh of a Granute. While the reveal of just who that character is doesn't come as a huge twist, the act of turning Gavv's primary plot point on its head is a stroke of genius. The idea of the Granutes turning humans into confectionary is pretty gruesome as it is, but there's something about the reverse that for some reason feels so much more twisted - especially when combined with imagery of cooking pots and Lizel getting threatened with a chainsaw. It's a shame that Guilty Parfait wasn't able to play into this aspect more instead of hiding it behind an obvious reveal because it's by far the most interesting progression of Gavv's story, but perhaps with the way it's presented it was a little too gruesome to delve any deeper into.

Guilty Parfait has a lot of characters and story to pack into a one-hour film and for the most part it manages to do this well, but unfortunately not every lingering plot thread from the main series gets the attention it deserves. One of the most significant plot points was the doorway between the human and Granute worlds being cut off, leaving Lakia stranded on the Granute world unable to see his friends again. While the matter of one doorway remaining is sufficiently (albeit all to conveniently) covered, Lakia's return and reunion with his comrades feels disappointingly downplayed. It didn't necessarily need to be a big part of the story, but it just kind of happens in the final act to little fanfare - another convenience to have the character return and the three Riders assembled once more. What's even more disappointing though is that Lakia has little to no interaction with Hanto in the film whatsoever, which is a huge shame given that the evolution in the friendship played a big part in both characters' development. It's always great to see Lakia again, but if Guilty Parfait is missing anything it's giving him something to do in the film other than simply show up at the most crucial time.

One aspect of the film that did come as something of a surprise was the title being quite so literal. The eponymous "Guilty Parfait" is quite a significant moment, representing Hanto's first attempt at a peace offering towards Lizel. Although it's spurned, it's also what leads to the creation of a new Gochizo - the very same one that Hanto uses for the movie-exclusive Parfait mode. The Chocorappa Gochizo also appears quite significantly in the film, accompanying Sachika and Lizel on their outing and frequently interjecting with random (but often relevant) phrases. While not necessarily a huge part of the mechanics of the story, it continues Gavv's clever way of tying its emotional aspects back to confectionary as well as the way it juxtaposes dark subject matter with colourful cartoonish visuals. On the one hand you have villains trying to eat humans and Granutes alike, and on the other you have a big plastic ice cream with a face spouting phrases like "Bon Appetite!". It might sound silly on paper, but Kamen Rider Gavv consistently makes it work.

Similar sentiments can also be said about the action sequences present in Guilty Parfait. Whilst the film doesn't feature too many of the forms featured across the series it retains its ability to cleverly craft fight scenes around their abilities, with moments like Gavv using the Gavvgablade emerging from his stomach to break a fall whilst also blocking an enemy attack standing out as highlights. The crowning moment however is naturally the first appearance of Valen's new Parfait mode, a thematically-fitting upgrade akin to Gavv's own Blizzardsorbet form. Its debut fight is energetic and appropriately explosive, but also features a surprising amount of comedy as well. Izik stepping on Valen's cape only for it to fall off and confuse them both is possibly the film's funniest moment, but then it's followed up by a great little sequence that incorporates the cape into Valen's attacks. While the suit being retooled from Blizzardsorbet parts might mean that Parfait mode doesn't particularly stand out visually, there's plenty else going on that makes it memorable.

After being denied a Winter-team up with Gotchard and a somewhat rushed Summer movie, it's great to see Kamen Rider Gavv finally get some really good feature-length content. Kamen Rider Gavv: Guilty Parfait may not be perfect either, but it does a fantastic job of picking up on the more emotionally significant story threads left dangling at the show's conclusion - exploring its impact on the cast in a new status quo whilst retaining the show's penchant for candy-coated macabre. But perhaps most significantly of all, it proves once and for all why Hanto Karakida is a complete and utter badass. While there's still plenty of scope for more Gavv content should Toei ever decide on it, Guilty Parfait leaves the series on a great note to go out on.