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Ichi the Killer

Play trailer Poster for Ichi the Killer R Now Playing 2h 8m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A bloodthirsty hoodlum (Tadanobu Asano) sparks a series of violent reprisals after his boss is apparently taken by a mysterious assassin (Nao Ômori).
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Ichi the Killer

Ichi the Killer

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Critics Consensus

Ichi The Killer is a thoroughly shocking gorefest that will surely entertain those with strong stomachs and a penchant for brutal violence.

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Critics Reviews

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Tanner Tafelski Village Voice Miike layers a blood-stained commentary on a toxic world in which men offer protection to men but really end up dooming them to exist within a spasmodic, shambolic, and hypermasculine sphere of violence. Nov 9, 2017 Full Review Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine Unhinged even for Takashi Miike, Ichi the Killer suggests a bloody and ejaculate-stained Rorschach inkblot, reveling in ultraviolence that can be interpreted to flatter any adventurous audience's sensibilities. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 5, 2017 Full Review Dennis Harvey Variety Even hardy gonzo-cinema auds will likely find the hectic pace overstimulating to the point of numbed-out tedium. Aug 8, 2008 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Miike’s twisted gangster tale, adapted from the manga by Hideo Yamamoto, is the Niagara Falls of gushing blood cinema, a depraved, demented exercise in excess. Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse "Ichi the Killer" is a must-watch for all fans of cult cinema, a true ode to violence and the soon arriving edition by WellGo USA is definitely the best edition of the film out there. Oct 20, 2019 Full Review Jeff Beck The Blu Spot Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer suffers from a heavily-meandering storyline, resulting in a tedious and stretched-out film that marks a low point in the director's incredible career. Rated: 2/5 Mar 19, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A Gritty, Brutal Masterpiece – Ichi the Killer Redefines Shock Cinema Takeshi Miike’s Ichi the Killer is nothing short of a cinematic rollercoaster that pushes the boundaries of filmmaking, blending violence, psychological depth, and twisted artistry into a film that is as unsettling as it is compelling. Based on the manga by Hideo Yamamoto, this film takes viewers into a world of sadism and vengeance, where the line between hero and villain is so blurred it leaves you questioning your own moral compass. The story centres on Ichi, a troubled and emotionally repressed killer manipulated by a sadistic yakuza enforcer named Kakihara. What begins as a typical crime story quickly escalates into a hallucinatory, nightmarish journey through a landscape of intense violence and betrayal. Miike’s direction is nothing short of visionary—he plays with colour, composition, and tempo, creating a visual style that is both grotesque and beautiful. The film's violence, while graphic and disturbing, is never gratuitous; it serves a purpose, adding a layer of psychological tension that mirrors the warped minds of its characters. Tadanobu Asano delivers a chilling performance as Kakihara, a man who seeks pain and pleasure in equal measure, while Nao Omori’s portrayal of Ichi captures the character’s vulnerability and deadly rage with incredible nuance. The juxtaposition of Ichi’s childlike innocence and his grotesque acts of violence forms the crux of the film’s brilliance, making the viewer feel both repelled and empathetic. The soundtrack complements the chaos on screen, with its eerie and jarring tones heightening the sense of unease. Miike's mastery over pacing ensures that even in the film’s most graphic moments, there is a tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat, never quite able to predict what will happen next. In conclusion, Ichi the Killer is a daring and audacious film that will not appeal to the faint-hearted but is a must-watch for those with a taste for dark, thought-provoking cinema. Miike’s ability to weave together complex characters and intense themes of power, pain, and control makes this film a genre-defining classic. A disturbing and thrilling experience that lingers long after the credits roll—this is a film that takes cinema to its absolute extreme. Rating: 10/10. Perfect for lovers of gore and dark psychology. - Sarah Wingfield Author 🌹 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/13/25 Full Review G P Not takeshi's best movie, but still ridiculously cool, gorey,nasty. Crazy, dark characters. Its one of those you want to keep watching to see what happens next. Cult classic! Definitely not for everyone but if you liked it it will stay with you. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/09/25 Full Review thiago s Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas de mortes e de gore são boas com bastante sangue, o elenco é mais ou menos, e alguns ajudam a melhorar o filme, principalmente o ichi que melhora um pouco o filme, a história é mais ou menos, mas o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 04/01/25 Full Review Taiga B This is a ultra violent and raw movie, based off the manga with the same name. It follows a young man named Ichi who has PTSD from an incident in high school and is mentally unstable and he is instructed to kill certain members of the Yakuza. Not only is there a huge amount of violence and gore, but the graphic torturing techniques of the Yakazu are very prominent throughout the movie. There are some issues though as some of the CGI scenes of people being cut in half look very dated. The acting though is really fantastic, with Tadanobu Asano (playing Kakihara) making a compelling Yakuza enforcer who seems slightly off the rails with his love of torturing others and even liking getting punched and hit in the face. Nao Omori is excellent as the psychotic and murderous Ichi The visuals are quite impressive, with very creative POVs and very realistic feeling grade of film. The problem I have for this film is that it sometimes gets confusing on what's really going on. Sometimes there where flashbacks, but then it became difficult to understand if a certain part was happening presently or if it happened in the past. I also found myself trying to understand who was on who's side, but also what role they played in the Yakuza gang or the other rival gangs. Overall, if you like over the time violence and stories about how the Yakuza functions, this is the movie for you. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Audience Member I see this on a lot of disturbing movies lists. I always took this as action. Different kinda like Anima brought to life. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Liam D While not a very subtle film. Director Takashi Miike‘a gleeful anarchy makes it a must watch for fans of his filmography Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis A bloodthirsty hoodlum (Tadanobu Asano) sparks a series of violent reprisals after his boss is apparently taken by a mysterious assassin (Nao Ômori).
Director
Takashi Miike
Producer
Akiko Funatsu, Dai Miyazaki
Screenwriter
Hideo Yamamoto, Sakichi Satô
Distributor
Prénom H Co. Ltd., Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG) [hk], Media Blasters
Production Co
Spike Co. Ltd., Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG) [hk], Omega Project, Omega Micott Inc, Star Max, Excellent Film, Alpha Group
Rating
R (Language|Gore|Drug Content|Sexuality|Strong Pervasive Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 22, 2001, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 20, 2018
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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