Ichi the Killer is arguably one of Takashi Miike’s most well-known films, which epitomizes his narrative style of mixing genres. Ichibegins in classic Miike style with ultra violence, raw energy oozing from every frame and gore galore. Adapted from the manga of the same name by Hideo Yamamoto, the film isbuilt on a simple plot of gangsters gunning for gangsters.Jijii (Shi’nyaTsukamoto) a small-time conniving boss compels one of his understudies Ichi(Nao Ômori)to murder Anjo, a rival. Meanwhile, Anjo’s protégé Kakihara(essayed brilliantly by Tadanobu Asano)vows to find out what happened to his boss. Kakihara specialises in unorthodox killings and learns that Ichi could be behindAnjo’s disappearance. As Ichi goes into a downward spiral becoming a killing machine – with hints of why he enjoys violence coming from memories of rape and bullying deeply embedded in his subconscious, Kakihara closes in on him slowly but surely.
Did you know? As a publicity gimmick, barf bags were received by viewers out at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to those attending the midnight screening of this movie. Read More
The film has been banned in Malaysia since the movie's distribution date and it later caused controversy in Germany and it remains banned in both countries as of 2009.
The mutilation on the sides of Kakihara's mouth is known as a Glasgow smile or a Chelsea smile, because organized crime in those British cities often put this wound on their enemies.
As a publicity gimmick, barf bags were received by viewers out at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to those attending the midnight screening of this movie.
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