by Nik Amanovic on 2nd June 2003
For those of you who do not know the name TAKASHI MIIKE, let it be known that he is a Japanese director with a fearsome reputation for making very controversial films, most of which include copious amounts of hardcore violence and the most disturbing sex scenes one is ever likely to see short of procuring a genuine ‘snuff‘ movie. Relatively unknown to western audiences, he burst onto the scene in 2000 with the chilling ‘Audition‘... a seemingly innocent tale until a final twist at the end which made the hairs stand up at the back of viewer‘s necks long after the film had finished! Having seen ‘Audition‘ I went to see MIIKE‘s ‘Ichi The Killer‘ at the Regus London Film Festival 2001 and felt I was better prepared than most at the screening for what I was about to witness. How wrong can a guy be?
A short plot summary follows, although this is a film where the less you know about it prior to seeing it the better. A Yakuza boss, Anjo, mysteriously disappears one evening with a large stash of Yen and all evidence suggests that he has probably been the victim of a ‘hit‘. His loyal followers, led by dapper sadomasochist Kakihara (TADANOBU ASANO) believe he is still alive and decide to search for Anjo, employing the harshest methods to get the information they desire. Their hunt leads them to Ichi (NAO OMORI), a seemingly ruthless killer with major mental problems who would give DAMIEN HIRST a run for his money. Could he be the cause of the boss‘s disappearance?
Quite simply, ‘Ichi The Killer‘ is the most violent film I have ever seen... scene after scene is filled with graphic mutilations, torture and grizzly deaths the likes of which have not been seen legally in this country for a while. However, this most definitely does not deter from the fact that it is also very funny in the darkest way possible. The reason for this weird cocktail of gore and comedy is the fact that ‘Ichi The Killer‘ is actually based on a hit Manga comic by HIDEO YAMAMOTO. Keeping this in mind it seems MIIKE has directed in such a way so that Ichi, Kakihara et al. come across as comic book characters, and this somehow made the ultra-violence, dare I say it, acceptable. The plot does suffer at times due to the never-ending carnage but overall it is an excellent example of extreme filmmaking by one of the connoisseurs of the art.
Just make sure your mum doesn‘t watch it.
CWW rating: 8 out of 10
Uk release: 2nd June 2003
Label: Premier Asia
Price: £19.99
Certificate: 18
DVD EXTRA FEATURES:
16:9 Anamorphic version enhanced for widescreen TVs.
Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio.
Feature length audio commentary with Asian movie expert BEY LOGAN, leading lady ALIEN SUN and producer ELIOT TONG
Interview Gallery with director TAKASHI MIIKE and leads TADANOBU ASANO, ALIEN SUN and SHINYA TSUKAMOTO
Original Theatrical trailer
UK campaign trailer
Behind-the-scenes vignettes
E.P.K featuring alternative interview with director TAKASHI MIIKE, out-takes and behind-the-scenes footage
Photo gallery featuring behind-the-scenes images and campaign artwork
Glamour photo gallery with ALIEN SUN
Text biographies and filmographies for principle cast members
Premier Asia showcase including forthcoming attractions
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
