Ichi the Killer is another gruelling watch from Japanese director Takashi Miike. Banned in several countries for its high impact violence and depictions of cruelty and abuse, Ichi the Killer is a highly controversial film adapted from Hideo Yamamotos manga series of the same name. The story is centred on a conflict between groups of rival Yakuza gangs, which has flared up as a result of the disappearance of the leader of the Anjo syndicate. A sadomasochist Anjo enforcer, Kakihara, starts searching for his boss, who he believes has been kidnapped. A tip from a supposedly trustworthy source points Kakihara in the direction of a rival gang member, Suzuki, who awakens to find himself suspended by a series of hooks that have been pierced through his back, arms and legs. Kakihara reveals himself, starting his interrogation of Suzuki by piercing holes through Suzukis face with some needles. Kakihara then proceeds to pour boiling oil over his suspended victim. The sound design behind both the oil and the needle stages of the torture is excellent, and it adds a true sense of depth to the scene. Moreover, the joy Kakihara obviously takes in dealing out this torture is simply sickening, especially when every facet of Miikes direction seems to be working towards making this scene as distressing as possible.
