Review of Ichi the Killer (2001) by Haris V — 30 Dec 2010

I had heard a lot about this nasty and infamous little pictue, but even then, wasn't really all that sure what to expect. Surprisingly enough, I actually really liked this. Unlike the torture porn it influenced, this actually has some merits beneath the surface.

This is so blatantly a satire with some deeper themes that it is a little dumb to get upset over the content, as gruesome as it is. Only maybe one or two scenes really cross the line. This is shot with an incredible amount of style and energy and for that, I am able to enjoy it even if I felt like I needed a shower as the end creits rolled.

Bottom line: give this a chance. It is brutal, it is disgusting, but it's also really funny (very dark humor) which I wasn't expecting, but really enjoyed. The perforances are good, and really, this is just a wild and unique film, so just try to look past the gore (if you don't like it) and you'll be fine.