The Killer

1971 1h 25m JA

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 1

ActionCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A former gang leader and lone wolf who has left the organization works behind the scenes in a new city to take revenge on a giant alliance of organizations. This film is amongst the last "straight" yakuza films made at Nikkatsu before the studio's switch-over to pinku eiga.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Akira Kobayashi
Meiko Kaji
Shōki Fukae
Rinichi Yamamoto
Eiji Gō
Tōru Abe
Michitarō Mizushima

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mio Ezaki
Writers: Yoshi Yokota, Ryuzo Nakanishi
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

ERA

Did you know

55 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Akira Kobayashi and Meiko Kaji and Shōki Fukae carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8361436 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mio Ezaki directs. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
255 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Akira Kobayashi and Meiko Kaji and Shōki Fukae carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt8361436 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.