Kung fu,Vampiresand frogs! Does a movie really need anything else? The first trailer has arrived forYakuza Apocalypse, proving that acclaimed Japanese cult directorTakashi Miikestill has a knack for the truly bizarre. The movie is equal parts comedy, action andhorror. And it’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Unless you’ve seen the previous movies fromTakashi Miike. Then this will feel like familiar ground, and won’t be at all shocking…Until you get to the end of the trailer…And then Jeebus F. Crust, you are going to lose your poop!
The best way to describeYakuza Apocalypseis as a martial arts extravaganza and vampire action film. In the film, Yakuza boss Kamiura is a legend. Rumored to be unkillable, the truth is he is a vampire. Not just any old bloodsucker though. This guy is a vampire yakuza boss! Wait, there’s more! WithTakashi Miike, there’s always more.
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. Ok, realize, this movie is just getting started!
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. One of Japan’s most successful filmmakers,Takashi Miikehas directed almost one hundred films. He has been thrilling audiences worldwide with movies such asAudition(1999),Ichi the Killer(2001) and13 Assassins(2010). And now, he may have made his greatest masterpiece.
In the early 2000s,Takashi Miikewas known for making anywhere between 8 and 5 movies every year. As he entered this decade, his output slowed, while the quality of his films skyrocketed. Now, he usually limits himself to two films per year, releasing the dramaThe Lion Standing in the Windin early 2015, which took the director down a decidedly different path. Though he’s no stranger to any genre. But withYakuza Apocalypse, the director returns to the batshit Japanese universe that fans adore. Will this be the craziest movie of 2015? It certainly has that potential. Take a look at the first trailer, along with the first poster and a whole bunch of photos.
