In MP Hayes’ short film Knifeman, soft spoken IRS Agent Horatio Hunt (John Swansiger) must suit up and become the hero “knifeman,” to save his city from a malignant sorceress Saegusa (Gina Kim). Saegusa has deployed Kaiju-like monsters to destroy the city, and knifeman is on the case.
Back in the real world, two FBI agents are parsing through clues and documentation in an attempt to solve the case of a delusional serial killer. The killer, who calls himself Knifeman, taunts the FBI, leaving clues and threats for them. He tells them he believes everyone is a monster, and that he is the only hero who understands the threat and can save the day.
“… a hero suits up to save his city from an evil sorceress …”
Knifeman is L.A. noir meets classic Tokusatsu but with a subversive theme. Like Watchmen, Knifeman explores the importance of viewpoint when it comes to justice, and the inherent tyranny behind the concept of the superhero. Superman without the shared values of the community becomes The Homelander from The Boys. Hayes relies on comfortable tropes to tell the story. Kaiju and characters who look like Power Rangers square off. The homage is effective and entertaining, while at the same time capturing the kitchsy spirit of the originals. Narration is delivered in the booming authoritative voice of the old newsreels.
The film exhorts us repeatedly: “Do Not Look Away,” and if we can answer that call and see beyond the illusion of “good guys vs bad guys,” what will be revealed is the threat of power prioritized over justice. Thucydides documented Athenians asserting that “right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” It’s a very old idea, and it’s still wrong.
Hayes cleverly delivers a parable without being overtly political, wrapped in fantasy, and dripping with gore, but the theme is stark and urgent. However messy and unreliable justice seems, it is far and away preferable to a world ruled by powerful, narcissistic men who see themselves as the hero of their own story, rationalizing the expedience of “any means necessary,” even when those means are objectively unmistakably evil.
"…Man in suit! "
