Ichi the Killer
2001, NR, 129 min.
Directed by Takashi Miike, Starring Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto, Paulyn Sun.

Reputed to be the most graphically disturbing of all Japanese cult director Takashi Miike’s films, Ichi the Killer tells the story of a psychopathic yakuza killer who has a secret in his past. Miike’s violence is so excessive as to be rendered cartoonish, and he makes movies with the speed (reportedly averaging around five movies a year) of a man possessed.

This article appears in September 19 • 2003.

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