When Takashi Miike¡¯s ¡°Ichi the Killer¡± was released 25 years ago, reactions ranged from disgust to delight ¡ª 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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