Shogun Assassin gained infamy on the midnight cinema circuit, yet its leading man didn’t enjoy fame comparable to Ogami Ittō’s hellish saga. Tomisaburo Wakayama, although prolific and renowned in his own right, is nought but a footnote for World Cinema fans next to the likes of Tetsuya Watari, Joe Shishido, […]
Japan
Shadow of Fire (2023)Tsukamoto At His Most… Hopeful? (Review)
While he doesn’t have the same cut-through of his halycon days with Tetsuo, Bullet Ballet or A Snake of June, Shinya Tsukamoto is undoubtedly one of the more consistent filmmakers in Japan. This is partly due to that movie industry not being as buoyant as it once was, but also because he’s a director […]
Bodyguard Kiba 1&2 (1973) Never a bad thing when it comes to Sonny Chiba (Review)
One Percenter (2023): Japanese Fall Guy delivers eighty-five minutes of mayhem (Review)
For some people, films about film-making are insufferable exercises in navel-gazing, nothing more than a way for self-absorbed artistes to force us to experience their creative angst. Yet there is a long history of this kind of meta-film within that least pretentious of genres, action. There’s a pretty simple reason […]
Yakuza Wolf I & II (1972) A Snapshot of a World long gone, Oozing Cool (Review)
By A Man’s Face You Shall Know Him (1966) Harmony, Yakuza and the Rediscovery of Tai Kato (Review)
I’ve previously written at length about the joy of discovering new films and filmmakers through Radiance Films — one of which was I, The Executioner (1968), a brutal neo noir which introduced me to Akira Kurasawa’s former apprentice Tai Kato. Radiance are clearly passionate about restoring and celebrating his work, […]
Black Tight Killers (1966) a chic and funky throwback to simpler, stylish times (Review)
The Sting of Death (1990) Scenes From a Marriage (Review)
Over the last six weeks I’ve been lucky enough to discover three new Japanese films that have been restored and released by Radiance Films that were not previously on my radar. Having spent years constantly agonising over what film to watch next, there’s something refreshing about trusting a company like […]
Mad Cats (2023) A Mixed Return to Japanese Madcap Comedy (Review)
I The Executioner (1968) A Brutal Neo Noir Directed by Akira Kurosawa’s Former Apprentice (Review)
Happy New Year and Happy New Radiance Films Release Day to all those who celebrate. After falling head over heels for Elegant Beast (1962), I was delighted to be jumping back into 60’s Japan for Radiance’s latest release I, The Executioner (1968), a neo-noir directed by former Akira Kurosawa protégée […]