Ichi The Killer
When it comes to Tartan Asia Extreme cinema, there is one master how wields the bloody sword greater than most and that is Takashi Miike. Famed for causing sick and twisted masterpieces, he is the Japanese answer to Tarantino. And with most things Japanese, Miikes films are adrenaline filled gore feasts. Despite directing and producing over seventy films, Miikes most famous works over the pond are creepy disjointed Audition, crazy and insane musical Happiness of the Katakuris and this, 2001 sadistic film, Ichi the Killer.
Ichi the Killer is about several gangs in a crime war. When Anjo, the leader of one gang is brutally murdered whilst with a prostitute and disappears, it is up to his sadomasochistic enforcer Kakihara to help. Believing he is still alive, Kakihara hunts down other gang members in order to find the truth (by any means possible.) However, there is a new breed of killer on the streets and he is going to stop at nothing to seek vengeance for those who hurt him, hurt others and hurt his manipulative boss.
(So this is not Ichi.)
Ichi the Killer is less about Ichi and more about the entrancing Kakihara (played perfectly by Tadanobu Asano.) With bleached blonde hair and a “Glasgow grin” held together by earrings in each cheek, he is a presence on screen. This sick gang member who loves to dish out and receive pain (that is kind of the point of Sadomasochism,) is perhaps the most charismatic psycho on screen. He is a villain with a love of the balance, even making amends when he wrongly tortures a gang member. Saying few lines, it is the moments of Kakihara’s self-torture, whether it is in penance or self-mutilation that are intriguing to watch. Although it will make you squirm, this is a successful view into a damaged human psyche. Running gleeful flashbacks of punishment with his boss Anjo alongside trying to get his kicks with someone new brings an rather unique view point to our foe. All he wants is pain and when that disappoints, he would do anything to get it.
(This crying man child is.)
I can’t whole heartedly approve of Ichi the Killer and this film is not exactly for everyone, particularly the faint hearted. Takashi Miike throws in the gore and then some. The whole movie is as if someone let children run amok with red paint as sides, faces and brains splatter across the screen. On most levels, the film has been made to shock you and the ultra-violent feast goes from one stomach churning scene to the next. It works well with the storyline. Yet Ichi at times takes a few steps too dark. As it tries to run humour along-side torture and sexual violence, the film falls off the balance and straight into hell. No wonder it was banned and is still banned in some countries.
Ichi is an interesting movie. On one hand you have a torture porn movie that is sure to delight sadist and masochists. Pouring on the red sticky stuff by the galleon, anyone who wants to delve into the world of nasty things is more than welcome here. But on the other hand, Ichi the Killer is a pretty interesting psychological look into the mind of the twisted and manipulated.
And naturally, it’s blooming weird in most places.
That’s the Takashi Miike Way.
TTFN
Cookie.
