It's worth noting right away that this carries itself with a somewhat different tone than its predecessor. Where '100 monsters' bore a dark edge in telling a story of greed, corruption, and cruelty receiving their comeuppance, 'Yokai monsters: Spook warfare,' also known simply as 'The great yokai war,' in some measure bears tinges of a film that could be enjoyed by a younger audience. The darker edge remains in the personage of the antagonist, and the destruction that surrounds them; on the other hand, the titular yokai otherwise are represented as beings that protect Japan and its people. With that in mind, one is perhaps reminded of some of the fare that The Jim Henson Company has produced: features that are marked with varying degrees of violence and more disturbing elements, but which can be enjoyed by youths with their swirl of dark fantasy and light humor - not to mention features that includes imaginative puppets, costume design, and effects, sometimes a little cartoonish, in bringing to life a variety of non-human creatures. And so it is here, a mix of facets that are sillier and softer, and those that are distinctly more intense or disquieting in fulfillment of the underlying horror. All told this might not be a total must-see, but it's a really good time, and well worth checking out on its own merits.
It's surely those viewers who are huge fans of Japanese monster movies, or perhaps Japanese culture generally, who will appreciate this picture the most. Yet the blend of horror with comedic aspects really is fun, and to be honest even more than I expected. 'Spook warfare' also has the benefit of not struggling with a lumbering pace as was true of its antecedent, and has been true of other works produced by Daiei. And with all this having said, this second movie is certainly well made, and possibly even boasts stronger production values than the first. In addition to those parts that parts that realize the various entities, the costume design, stunts, and effects are excellent generally, as are the sets. The cinematography and editing are equally sharp, lending flavor at different points, and this flick is one that's very easy on the eyes for how terrific everything looks. The cast also unreservedly embrace the tenor of the production; like director Yoshiyuki Kuroda, those actors playing the human characters and those portraying the yokai find all find a balance between the light and the dark - treating both sides of the title with equal care and seriousness, and letting the earnestness of the whole affair shine through. Truthfully, I'm pleasantly surprised by just how well done this is!
Measurable skill and intelligence went into this from all corners; even the climax, and the more action-oriented scenes generally, are more exciting and satisfying than I assumed, especially based on '100 monsters' as a point of comparison. Maybe the more plainly somber tone of the latter film was actually its weak spot, for as this one is characterized by a bit more playful sensibility, it quite comes across that all involved were able to just let their creativity run wild to make the most entertaining romp that they could. Entertaining - but no less sincere, as illustrated in repeated lines in the dialogue about Japanese pride. I'm really just so happy with how good this installment in the series turned out to be; while some audiences will appreciate it more than others, I'm delighted that when all is said and done I think 'Spook warfare' is something that just about anyone could enjoy. It's still nothing so special as to demand viewership, but for those who are receptive to the less outwardly grim and brutal side of horror, there's a great deal to like here and I'm glad to give it my hearty recommendation!
