Review of Ichi the Killer (2001) by Dan G — 14 Aug 2008

Twisted. I think that best describes this film - actually, "fucked-up" fits much better. Storywise, Ichi follows the exploits of (sado)masochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara in his search for his missing boss and his fascination with the title character, a severely disturbed, victimized young man with a penchant for sadism. Basically Kakihara's literally cruising for a bruising.

I never quite know what to make of this film; I don't deny it's a fascinating watch, like a national disaster on the news, but it just seems like such a mess of a film. Also, if ever existed a film with no sympathetic characters - this is it. Kakihara and Ichi do not likeable anti-heroes make; the former delighting in torture and sexual mutilation and the latter just being so far gone in his brainwash-induced psychosis he eludes empathy (though you do feel for the poor bastard in the restaurant scene that introduces him). The supporting cast are similarly, flawed, broken, fucked-up individuals on a downward spiral. I suppose one can at least credit Kakihara for his striking aesthetic; I wonder if, visually and (un)ethically, he inspired Heath Ledger's Joker in Dark Knight.

Ultraviolence abounds in this flick; some of it darkly humourous (the tongue-slicing scene plays out like an exceptionally twisted Little Britain sketch); some of it genuinely disturbing (vicious rape and nipple-slicing are the two gems that spring to mind - the latter scene being cut in the UK release by the BBFC fascists). If nothing else, Miike lets his imagination have full vent here (as well as that of the mangaka who created the source material).

So all in all, an interesting curio for those who can stomach it, but the unsatisfying, all-over-the-place narrative and unsympathetic characters kinda hamper its appeal beyond the show 'n' shock.