Directed by:
Takashi MiikeScreenplay:
佐藤佐吉Cinematography:
山本英夫Cast:
浅野忠信, 大森南朋, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Pauline Suen, Sabu, Shun Sugata, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Jun Kunimura, Susumu Terajima, 松尾スズキ, 有薗芳記, Houka Kinoshita, 佐藤佐吉, モロ師岡, 手塚とおる (more)Plots(1)
Welcome to a world where violence is virtue and depravity a way of life. It is the underside of Shinjuku, and the home of Kakihara, a sadistic yakuza killer. The mastermind Jijii is an ex-cop bent on turning the gangsters of Japan against each other. His trump card is a physically powerful lunatic always on the verge of snapping. This madman is Ichi the Killer, and between him and Kakihara, the streets will bleed. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (5)
An exploitative spectacle without any sense, which, although it delights here and there with a juicily perverse idea or catchphrase ("Just a little torture.") and presents truly brutal violence in a highly original and deliberately entertaining way, fails on all fronts as a coherent piece of filmmaking with a cogent narrative and thoughtful scene continuity. The initial confusion over the constant interweaving of scenes and dreamlike flashbacks admittedly wears off over time, but Miike again reveals himself not as a capable storyteller, but as a first-class pervert whose concept of gore may be unconventional, but its frequency, extreme nature, and gradual unoriginality only hurt everything and make the plot terribly uninteresting. Moreover, the characters are all extremely unlikeable and normal people have no chance to find their way to them, and as a result, the final battle of man against man lacks any charge or emotion. For me it's below average, but for fans of extreme ketchup violence I can't recommend it enough – you'll probably drool with joy.
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The plot is a slightly confused explosion of violence, which in itself is truly diabolical and detailed, but on the other hand the pace is quite uneven in places, some parts of the film put me to sleep, others I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Anyway, it has to be admitted that Ichi is an above average affair, you don't see many such films, the direction is inventive and the atmosphere is great.
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Ichi the Killer is for me just a messy combination of violence, the most disgusting black humor, and brutal action, with several perverse scenes that made me wonder if the director is mentally ill. Only the original visual aspect saves it from being rubbish.
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Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Yes, you too, the lady with those adorable twins! And you, the gentlemen trying to hide your beer in the newspaper! Don't be afraid and come on in! You're in for a unique circus like you've never experienced it before! You'll see vertical violence, horizontal violence, cutting, stabbing, crushing, and even a few times the smell of gunpowder will waft through the audience! Don't worry madam, there will be violence against women too... But guys, no shoving, everyone will find a seat. Don't be afraid to laugh out loud! You're in for a spectacular story about Ichi, a brutal killer who doesn't want to be a killer, but is forced to be one by past traumas and it is expected of him! You don’t know this story? I don't believe it....
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A film that has become a legend in its own right. It's one of those Japanese films that definitely aren't accessible to everyone, mainly because of the violence and what is depicted in the film, which is something you don't see every day. Takashi Miike demonstrated just how much of a cinematic madman he is, showing that violence can indeed be portrayed very bloodily and realistically. One might even say he was incredibly generous with the depiction of gore and visceral elements towards the audience. I appreciate violence in films, it's just how it is; violence is part of life, unfortunately. However, here I felt like the story was somewhat neglected. True, some of the gore scenes really leave a lasting impression, and the Japanese show themselves to be masters in that regard. Of course, there are also perverse scenes involving sex and its bizarre forms - typical of the Japanese style.
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