Ichi the Killer

For fans of Audition, a film posted previously, I bring to you another Takashi Miike film, one that does not fail to deliver. The film title emerges from a dripping puddle of semen, so you know from the beginning you're in for a ride.

Hanging someone horizontally with hooks and pouring hot oil all over their back is what Kakihara, a pure sadist, likes to call "Just a little torture." He also willingly slices off his own tongue. Tasty.

Just how does Ichi the Killer get down and dirty? He has his own damn clean up unit for when he's done doing his thing. The first clean-up in the film makes Johnny Depps ceiling in Nightmare on Elm Street look spotless. He's not your average assassin, and to some he may come across annoying. He's an odd cross between badass and crybaby, all the while sharing in masochistic adventures. As the movie progresses he seems fixed on not killing anymore. But a supposed past of bullying seems to overpower his conscience and he feels the responsibility in ridding the world of anyone marked as such. If you're looking for the usual good guy bad guy film, you won't find it here.

Who says you can't have a little bit of humor with your daily dose of violence? Miike does well in combining the two elements together. Or maybe you won't find any humor within the film...that would be unfortunate.