YAKUZA APOCALYPSE : THE GREAT WAR OF THE UNDERWORLD

Boss Kamiura is a legend among the yakuza, seemingly invulnerable to bullets and knifes. And that’s because he’s a vampire. His most loyal henchman is Kagemaya, who’s ridiculed by the other gang members because his sensitive skin prevents him from tattooing his back like a real yakuza. One day Kamiura gets a visit from a formidable gang of foreign assassins. They give him an ultimatum. Return to the international vampire crime syndicate he left years ago… or die. Kamiura refuses and, after a fierce fight with his assailants, is torn to pieces. But just before he dies, he bites Kagemaya, transfusing his vampire powers to him. When his pupil becomes aware of his newfound strength, he seeks vengeance for the death of his master. But the opposition is improbably strong, not to say apocalyptic.

Even though Takashi Miike no longer churns out five movies a year (but who would blame him after all he’s given us throughout the years: The Audition, Ichi The Killer, Sukiyaki Western Django, 13 Assassins…), a new movie from the Japanese grandmaster of genre cinema remains an event. The full title of his latest cinematic feat is Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War of the Underworld and that’s exactly what we can expect: an exciting, ultra-violent blend of vampires, gangsters, slapstick, monster movies and popular culture.