In his most lavish production to date, Miike breathes new life into old spooks. Following last year's Zebraman, The Great Yokai War may be his most family-friendly film yet. The film's hallucinatory, deranged fantasy is reminiscent of H.R. Pufnstuf - but for the spurting bodily fluids and mechanized robots with chainsaw arms that threaten little children. - Toronto International Film Festival

Ever wonder what it would be like if the most outrageous director on Earth made a fantasy film for children? It’s tough being ten year-old Tadashi. His mom just got a divorce and moved him and his grandfather from Tokyo to a small town, where all the kids at his new school pick on him. But is chosen as the Kirin Rider, the defender of justice and peace, and he can see the Yokai - magical creatures from Japanese folklore. Meanwhile, a great evil has been re-awakened, threatening to devour humanity and busily turning the good Yokai into evil rusty bio-mechanical robot monsters. Aiding this monster is the evil spirit Kato and Agi (Chiaki Kuriyama, a.k.a. Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill Vol.1), a traitor Yokai whose love for the evil Kato compels her to turn against the good spirits. Only the Kirin Rider can save the world from this menace, with some help from his Yokai friends!