10 Most Disturbing Backstories Behind Quentin Tarantino Movie Side Characters

2. O-Ren Ishii

Pulp Fiction
Miramax

As mentioned, whereas some films take place in the 'real' Tarantino universe, others take place in his 'movie' universe. For example, Kill Bill exists as a movie that characters in Pulp Fiction would go and see. This is why some Tarantino movies feel a little more grounded and others get away with being a little more whacky.

This gave Tarantino a chance to go a wild with Kill Bill, with unrealistic action sequences and characters with superhero-like combat skills. One of the most formidable and impressive was O-Ren Ishii, played by Lucy Liu.

Ishii was a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. She also became a prominent figure in Tokyo's criminal underworld by the age of 25. Impressive stuff. But her motivation was born out of her dark past.

As a child, Ishii witnessed her mother and father brutally murdered by a Yakuza crime boss named Matsumoto. The experience left her scared. When Ishii was 11 she finally got her revenge, taking advantage of Matsumoto's perversion for children, seducing and killing him.

Contributor

Before engrossing myself in the written word, I spent several years in the TV and film industry. During this time I became proficient at picking things up, moving things and putting things down again.