When Takashi Miike’s “Ichi the Killer” was released 25 years ago, reactions ranged from disgust to delight — or, in my case, both at once. Now it’s back in a restored 4K version.
Based on a manga by Hideo Yamamoto, the film is an unrestrained gorefest whose hitman protagonist finds killing sexually exciting. By the time of its release, Miike already had a reputation as a gonzo filmmaker with an uncommon talent and unhinged imagination. “Ichi the Killer” solidified it. But unlike imitators who regarded blood sprays and flying body parts as naughty fun, Miike delivered images that made audiences’ laughs stick uncomfortably in their throats.
When a pimp brutally rapes and beats a sex worker, her gross disfigurement is shown in unsparing close-up as the film takes a sharp turn from the comically ironic to the wrenchingly raw. It’s no wonder that such scenes were censored in some territories.
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