Youth of the Beast

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Christopher B 10/19/2022 "Youth of the Beast" is another highly entertaining and fun Seijun Suzuki film filled with action, violence, humor and just plain style! This is just a flat out fun film to watch as there is always something going on and some really cool set pieces that are a load of film to watch unfold. Jo Shishido and his cheeks star as an ex-cop who is out for revenge against the yakuza who in the past killed his partner. While the story itself is nothing new or inventive, it's the style and mood of the film that really sets it apart and makes it worth watching and makes it so damn enjoyable to view! If you like Japanese films, especially any of Criterion's releases such as the Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse set, Branded to Kill or Tokyo Drifter this is another great release to check out! See more 04/15/2019 Well, based on the high standards set by other japanese classics this mid-era yakuza flic by Suzuki seems to be a bit too unpolished, macho and constructed. It’s fun watching it anyways if you can forgive some illogicalities. See more 08/20/2017 Jo Shishido and Seijun Suzuki are in top form in this full tilt Japanese pulp noir classic. The scenes are beautifully framed and tracked, punctuated by mesmerising splashes of colour; while the dialogue translates across without the cheesiness of some of Suzuki's other films. See more 11/02/2016 Another great choice for the Masters of Cinema collection. Brilliant storytelling and concise cinematography, editing and dialogue. Loved it. See more 02/08/2016 another winner from Seijun Suzuki though i was a little disappointed they never explain the title I guess it's whatever u want it to be. See more 02/05/2016 No doubt Seijun Suzuki intended this noirish drama to be confusing from the start, but this put me offside for a while. You see, there is a double suicide (or is it a murder?) right at the start (in black and white) and then, unrelatedly, we start following (in colour) Joe Shishido, a ruthless gangster (emulating the classic masterless ronin samurai), who makes trouble for, and gets himself hired by, a family of yakuza. Then Joe begins to play one gang of yakuza off another, playing both sides, if you will, and gradually, we discover (in an offhand way) more about his background. The plot slowly falls together even as Joe resolves it for us (by solving the murder, of course). Director Suzuki seems more interested in creating garishly coloured backdrops for unusually framed shots than the plot, really. So, let's just say things are off-kilter most of the time and also in-your-face with sex, drugs, and violence - but all of this is pretty cartoonish. An odd fish (but typical of this director). See more Read all reviews

Youth of the Beast

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