VENGEANCE IS MINE is a serial killer film with a different: this Japanese epic is hyper-realistic and reminded me of the sort of classy thriller that Kurosawa would have made in his prime. It has stylistic similarities to Kurosawa's own HIGH & LOW, although the focus this time is on the killer himself rather than the detective investigation.
A slightly unusual framing chronology at the outset soon settles into a comfortable routine as the tale is told in flashback for the most part. Ken Ogata plays a fully-rounded character who one day snaps and becomes a murderer, and the film is careful to paint his character in detailed strokes, allowing the viewer to build up a picture of how and why he was eventually driven to murder.
It's a psychological study that's packed full of great stuff: subtle characterisation, bursts of sudden and explicit sex and violence, and overall a thorough attention to detail. The cinematography is excellent, bringing to life the shabby working class life of Japan in the late '50s and early '60s, and despite the slow pace and lengthy running time, not a scene seems to be extraneous or wasted. In short, it's a masterwork.
A slightly unusual framing chronology at the outset soon settles into a comfortable routine as the tale is told in flashback for the most part. Ken Ogata plays a fully-rounded character who one day snaps and becomes a murderer, and the film is careful to paint his character in detailed strokes, allowing the viewer to build up a picture of how and why he was eventually driven to murder.
It's a psychological study that's packed full of great stuff: subtle characterisation, bursts of sudden and explicit sex and violence, and overall a thorough attention to detail. The cinematography is excellent, bringing to life the shabby working class life of Japan in the late '50s and early '60s, and despite the slow pace and lengthy running time, not a scene seems to be extraneous or wasted. In short, it's a masterwork.