DVD Movie Review | Yakuza Apocalypse (Lights, Camera, Action!) Page 1

DVD Movie Review | Yakuza Apocalypse (Lights, Camera, Action!)

Yakuza Apocalypse (UK Rating: 18)

His work may be divisive, yet whether loved or hated it's hard to argue the films of Director Takashii Miike are some of the most iconically stylish and unique stories to come out of Japan. Miike-sensei has shown that he is able to adapt anything into his uniquely peculiar style, regardless of its source material, resulting in some of the most impressive adaptations in Japanese cinema. Ichi the Killer, Crows, Audition… even Ace Attorney. Yakuza Apocalypse, a completely original tale from the acclaimed cult Director splatters onto UK shores on 2nd May from Manga Entertainment.

In a small town in Toyko, "The Boss Kamuira" of a Yakuza family keeps the civilians protected and happy while also dealing with any other rival criminals. A very familiar premise, the gangsters, who actually look out for their neighbourhood, usually set against new criminals with a lack of respect for their fellow man. It's really not what anyone expects, though, and this is where it's best to massively up your suspension of disbelief… the boss turns out to be a Yakuza Vampire, one who chains up rival criminals and gets them to practise knitting until he feeds on them.

The boss, however, isn't the protagonist of this story, with it instead being the narrator of this tale - the bodyguard of the boss, a young underling named Kageyama. This young Yakuza exhibits all of the traits of the Yakuza with a heart of gold - bar the tattoos, that is! He has sensitive skin so can't get inked - Kageyama is clearly the boss' favourite and his chosen successor, but that promotion is thrust upon him sooner than expected when a shady looking guy dressed as a 19th Century vampire-hunting priest arrives along with a vicious assassin in the guise of an Akihabara Otaku. The assassin - Kyoken - is played by the phenomenal Indonesian martial artist Yayan Ruhian, and it's worth watching Yakuza Apocalypse for his performance alone. Obviously, few can stand up to the badass from The Raid and Kyoken takes out both Kamuira and Kageyama, mortally wounding Kageyama and tearing the head off Kamuira.

This is the jumping off point where the story just gets plain insane. The decapitated head bites and Kageyama and the rest of the story follows Kageyama as he deals with his transformation into a Yakuza Vampire (which helpfully gives him an awesome back-piece tattoo, needle free!), the consequences of feeding on others, along with trying to deal with the threat of the shadowy organisation and their evil leader Kaeru-kun… a plush frog mascot…

When Kageyama feeds on someone, they too become a Yakuza Vampire, each with a unique back-piece tattoo and a new personality, like the cliché Yakuza of the '90s, suddenly sitting legs splayed, gambling, mouthing-off in the traditional manner, and so on. This makes for some great comedy moments as schoolgirls, nurses, and accountants are suddenly transformed into swaggering gangstas. It's explained that feeding on these innocent civilians is like a drug. Their blood is delicious and addictive, but once fed upon they are no longer a source of food or income… while feeding on Yakuza is non-nutritious and tastes disgusting. There's a ham-fisted message here of how the Yakuza need the civilians to survive, but their actions often result in more Yakuza.

There are so many moments throughout Yakuza Apocalypse that are absolutely, bizarrely surreal, so much so that it's best not to even begin to ruin them - brains leaking out of ears, people eating frogspawn, gigantic Kaiju frogs destroying the world, reflecting mini-gun fire with nunchucks… This is a film that has "The World's Toughest Terrorist" as a master martial artist in a giant frog costume, oh and he has magical powers… and just wait until that suit comes off. A film that has a Japanese folklore creature randomly appearing with no explanation or reason… A film that simply beggars belief and has to be seen to be believed…

The story may be so completely out there that it's hard to take seriously, yet there are some diamonds here. The cast delivers some hammy, yet hilarious, performances, the cinematography and score complement the bizarre story and action on-screen, and some of the fight scenes are fantastically choreographed and have some moments that feel torn directly from the pages of a battle manga… well, at least a comedy battle manga.

7/10

Very Good - Bronze Award

Everyone knows these types of films. Films like Ricky-oh, films like The Room. Films that are so insanely unbelievable and completely indescribable that they demand watching. Demand watching with friends and with drinks and with laughs. Yakuza Apocalypse is the perfect party film, filled with insanity, surrealism and the uniquely surreal vision of a truly iconic Japanese Director.