Whereas Takashi Miike's more recent foray into the world of violence, 13 Assassins, might not have offended the sensibilities of critics and audiences, the same can't be said for his magnum opus, Ichi The Killer. Banned in numerous countries to this day, this is an exercise in brutal and sadistic violence par excellence. Revolving around feuding Yakuza gangs, Ichi The Killer begins with the titular psychologically damaged hitman masturbating to the sight of a prostitute being beaten by her pimp and gets more outrageously twisted from there on - nothing is sacred, all kinds of violence are permissible and in pushing the boundaries of acceptability Miike has crafted one of the most subtly challenging movies about violence ever made. For audiences with a strong constitution, Ichi The Killer is also as entertaining as it is provocative.
