Takashi Miikes Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War of the Underworld ^[1] hadde verdenspremiere i Quinzaine des Réalisateurs-programmet under årets Cannes-festival. Nå kan du se en usensurert trailer til vampyr/gangster/martial arts-filmen.

Japans enfant terrible har et produktivitetsnivå ytterst få kan matche, med en ”leveranse” på omlag 2-3 spillefilmer i året. Med sine grenseoverskridende og eksperimentelle voldsskildringer – blant annet kultklassikerne Audition og Ichi the Killer – har Takashi Miike ^[2] opparbeidet seg internasjonal anerkjennelse, og ved gjentatte anledninger gjestet Cannes med en ny og blodig sjangermiks i bagasjen.

Yakuza Apocalypse ser ikke ut til å være noe unntak. Filmen beskrives slik i Quinzaine des Réalisateurs ^[3]’ program:

Yakuza boss Kamiura is a legend. Rumored to be unkillable, the truth is he is a vampire – a vampire yakuza boss! Among Kamiura’s gang is the loyal Kageyama. However, the young Kageyama is looked down on by the other yakuzas due to the sensitive skin that prevents him from being tattooed.

One day, men arrive from abroad and deliver Kamiura an ultimatum : return to the syndicate he left years ago or die. Kamiura refuses and, during a fierce battle, is torn limb from limb. With his dying breath, Kamiura passes on his powers to Kageyama. As his newfound abilities awaken, Kageyama’s desire to avenge his boss sets him on a violent confrontation with the seemingly unstoppable foreign syndicate.

Selv om Red Band-traileren gir inntrykk av at Yakuza Apocalypse er en særdeles underholdene Miike-film, har internasjonal presse vært lunkne i møte med filmen:

(…) a lesser entry from the indefatigable but erratic Japanese cult director Takashi Miike. – The Hollywood Reporter ^[4]

(…) a lazily executed dud padded out with infantile pranks, shambolic plot turns and knockabout action. – Variety ^[5]

While on paper seeming like the Takashi Miike-est Takashi Miike film ever, it might be a surprising bummer for the Midnight Madness crowd expecting a kinetic horror-action film. Every shot lasts far longer than expected and with little to no music, creating a stream of silence followed by a burst of action rhythmic pattern. – The Film Stage ^[6]

Den ferske traileren til Yakuza Apocalypse kan du se her:

Kilde: Slash Film ^[7]