Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

“This guy in the bathrobe is a real hero.”

Bumbling detective Harry Griswold (Rick Gianasi, Bad Girls Dormitory) attends a kabuki performance funded by slimy billionaire Reginald Stuart (Bill Weeden, Are We Not Cats). That night, Stuart’s goons assassinate Sato, the keeper of the Kabukiman legend. As he lay dying, Sato passes the spirit of Kabukiman into Griswold. With a bit of goofy spectacle, Griswold turns into Kabukiman, wearing a yellow kimono and speaking Japanese. Aided by Sato’s frustrated daughter Lotus (Susan Byun, Extramarital), he must embrace his new identity and superpowers to destroy corporate tycoon Sturart before the corrupt villain summons The Evil One.

Co-directed by TROMA studio heads Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, the film aims to spoof the superhero genre with their own brand of tasteless and vulgar humor. From the start, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. behaves like a martial arts-comedy riff on Batman through the lens of The Naked Gun. However, Herz and Kaufman layer in their chaotic blend of slapstick, cartoonish violence, and sight gags, accompanied by cheesy practical effects. The result is a bizarre flick that is tasteless and yet oddly hilarious. That can be said for most Troma movies, right?

Where Kabukiman seems to falter is the sheer amount of material crammed into the story. Casual viewers can get lost waiting for the story to catch up. As our titular hero embraces his destiny, we’re sidetracked with scenes that derail the whole effort. Some of these tangents are absurdist, while others hammer home the theme of corporate greed and the audacity of the superhero in modern times. Kaufman and Herz are clearly having a blast, which adds to not only the spectacle but also the sheer fun you get out of a genuine TROMA film. 

Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. haphazardly blends a mix of genres, hoping to find something with broad appeal. However, it's dead-on, with an unapologetic embrace of Kabuki culture and beat-cop procedural. Throw in a goopy monster, nudity, and an impressive car stunt to seal the deal! Audiences looking for a new cult comedy should look no further than this absurdist comedy from Troma. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. arrives on 4k UHD thanks to Vinegar Syndrome and OCN Distribution. This Combo Pack also includes two Blu-ray discs featuring an alternate PG-13 cut of the film. The three discs are housed in a black keepcase with reversible artwork. A hinged divider inside holds the discs securely in place. Loading them presents the Vinegar Syndrome logo before landing on the Main Menu screen with typical navigation options. You’ve made it when you hear the rockin’ theme song. 

Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. arrives on 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome, in an HVEC-encoded 2160p transfer from a new 4K scan and restoration of the original 35mm negative. Framed in the original 1.85:1 widescreen, this new transfer looks spectacular. Detail is impressive, whether it's the facial features in Griswold's zany expressions or the tiny set dressing in the police station. Primaries are bold and bright, as exemplified by Kabukiman's makeup and costuming. Black levels are strong throughout the feature. Nighttime scenes look fantastic, especially the final bout between Kabukiman and The Evil One.  Facial features are presented with loads of texture and detail, accentuating performances and displaying the makeup department’s handiwork. Kabukiman has never looked so good! A pleasing grain structure keeps the film looking fresh while evoking nostalgia for my old DVD copy. I’m impressed at how well the transfer retains the gritty aesthetic of the movie without sacrificing clarity. May all grimy Troma films receive the same 4k treatment! 

For this release of Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. each presentation on the three discs features the original Theatrical Mono Soundtrack with English SDH Subtitles. This mono track is clear, clean, and free of any distortion. This is quite an upgrade from the previous Blu-ray release, which featured a 2.0 lossy Dolby Digital track. Here, dialogue is clear and distinct, with effects and music providing an excellent balance in the mix. 

Vinegar Syndrome fills the three discs in this Combo Pack with new and archival features. I recommend starting with "A History Lesson on Kabukiman" first before checking out the other offerings. Obviously, the commentary tracks with Kaufman are gold and should be savored! 

4k Ultra HD disc 

• Director’s Cut of the Film

• Commentary with The Cinematic Void podcast

• Commentary with Lloyd Kaufman

Blu-ray Disc 1

• Director’s Cut of the Film

• Archival Commentary Track with Lloyd Kaufman

• New Commentary Track with James Branscome and Nick Vance of The Cinematic Void Podcast

• A History Lesson on Kabukiman (HD 26:31) Lloyd Kaufman and film programmer Jesse Berberich discuss the film’s production, its legacy, and the complications of bringing it to life. Naturally, Lloyd Kaufman goes on a few tangents, but these provide plenty of insight into the film. 

• TROMA Olivier (HD 18:05): This is a brand new interview with actor Bill Weeden, who portrayed Reginald Stuart in the film. Here, Bill speaks candidly about his experiences working on the film and its impact on his life since.

• A Bond Girl, TROMA Style (HD 16:43) A new interview with actress Shaler McClure Wright, who plays Felicia in the film. Here she details her experiences transitioning to acting and the chaotic nature of a Troma film set. 

• From Redneck Zombies to TromaVille (HD 7:54) A new interview with special effects coordinator Pericles Lewnes. Like most TROMA cast and crew, Pericles was inspired by The Toxic Avenger to pursue a career in the film industry. His resume within TROMA is impressive with credits in Redneck Zombies, Shatter Dead, Troma’s War, The Toxic Avenger 2 & 3, and Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD. While he doesn’t delve into the production, Pericles speaks kindly of his experiences and their impact on his life. 

• Archival Extras:

• Troma Disc Introduction with Lloyd Kaufman (HD 6:34) This intro from Lloyd also includes a fun Behind-the-Chopsticks featurette about the life and times of Kabukiman. 

• Interview with Lead Actor Rick Giansi (HD 6:52) Lloyd randomly finds Giansi at MegaCon Orlando and conducts an impromptu interview! Soon, the actor is answering questions at a panel from fans of the film. 

• Select Scene Commentary with Rick Giansi (HD 9:54) Giansi provides a commentary for eight scenes from the film.

• Interview with Kaufman and Herz from The Dick Cavett Show in 1989 (SD 24:03) The heads of TROMA spend an uneasy 24 minutes explaining their films and art. 

• In-Production Sales Reel from 1989 (SD 8:46)

• LaserDisc Intro (HD 5:11) Lloyd hypes the film’s new digital transfer in its original aspect ratio with a couple of crackheads, Toxie, and a fire-swallowing Roxanne Michaels. 

• Troma Team Video Intros (SD 5:47) The DVD intro features Lloyd walking the streets of NYC, chatting with cast and crew.

• VHS Sales Pitch Promo (SD 2:24) 

• Multiple Original Trailers (HD, 9:47): 5 trailers for the film play back-to-back.

Blu-ray Disc 2:

• PG-13 Cut of the Film (HD 1:40:05)

Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. revels in its cartoonish hero violence and outlandish Troma humor. While the film will leave you in stitches at every turn, there are too many ideas that sidetrack an otherwise appealing cult comedy. Kaufman and Herz created something special with Kabukiman that resonates with cult comedy fans today. The 4K UHD presentation is an impressive release with an outstanding A/V package and loads of special features. It's a hell of a disc, but this one is probably best left For Fans Only. Troma is an aquired taste on a good day, this one is out there!