Yakuza Apocalypse, 2015.
Directed by Takashi Miike.
Starring Denden, Lily Franky, Hayato Ichihara, Yoshiyuki Morishita, Masanori Mimoto, Riko Narumi, Yayan Ruhian, and Raiko Takashima.
SYNOPSIS:
A Yakuza Vampire boss is betrayed by members of his clan, and is consequently killed; the duty befalls onto his most loyal protégé to take revenge, and to comply with the vampiric-lore.
Bursting from the opening shot there unfolds a gory bloodbath of torsos slashed violently by the vampiric crime lord himself Kamiura (Lily Frankie). Once the massacre has ceased, the film may separate the audience into two camps: aficionados of Miike’s oeuvre will highly appreciate this introduction, and newcomers may be stunned in paralysis, uncertain if they picked up the right Blu-ray. Those in the latter camp needn’t fret, for the film does calm down for a bit afterwards.
Kageyama (Hayato Ichihara) admires the Yakuza lifestyle, and is convinced this will grant him the pathway to manhood. Under the supervision of Kamiura he quickly becomes a loyal member of the Yakuza, and one that Kamiura entrusts greatly. The film then introduces the ensemble of misfit gangsters that populate this underworld in a moderately “straight” (or “classical” if you prefer) manner; we’re told Kamiura may be a vampire, but – unless you’ve seen the trailer, of course – there’s nothing visually or narratively concrete to support this accusation (unless you count that opening sequence). This introductory act is sparsely littered with drily comedic moments, and with dramatic moments to establish character motivation.
The classical mode of storytelling ceases upon the arrival of an English speaking witch-hunter-cum-cowboy donning a coffin backpack, and his nerdy faux-tourist accomplice Kyoken (Yayan Ruhian) who arrive at Kamiura’s turf, and are ready to assassinate him. Those who have seen the Raid films and Star Wars: The Force Awakens will instantly recognise Ruhian: and, unlike his Hollywood cameo, his martial arts are utilised to their fullest potential. It may not be as high-octane as his Mad-Dog character in The Raid (could anything else be?) but it will remind audiences of his talent.
Once Kamiura’s dead (the trailer spoiled it, not me) and Kageyama becomes a vampire, the imagination of Miike unleashes to provide a wonderful, odd, violent, and insanely hilarious world that bulldozes through the “realist” sense. In other words, the film does not rest on the Yakuza-cum-vampire novelty, but uses this as a launching pad for such carnivalesque imagery. This tonal shift from a conventional yakuza drama with its vampiric mysticism lingering overhead, to the appearance of a kappa goblin with poor hygiene will keep audiences on their toes. Further, it is the little details that keeps such originality afloat: in one particular moment, Kageyama is struggling to decipher a seemingly blank note handed to him, only to discover the letter is written in citrus acid. Through trial and error, he understands that burning it will bring out the letters: ‘Stay foolish’ is the cryptic message. This keeps the audience, and its characters, in this ceaselesstrajectory of confusion, then acceptance, and then blind adaptability.
Yakuza Apocalypse is a violent, fun, unpredictable farce that is bound by cartoon-logic.
SEE ALSO: Buy Yakuza Apocalypse on AMAZON UK or AMAZON US
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Matthew Lee
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https://youtu.be/b7Ozs5mj5ao?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published May 2, 2016. Updated March 2, 2020.
