Arrow Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Anticipating the cool aesthetic of Seijun Suzuki's Branded to Kill and based on a crime novel by Shinji Fujiwara, the author of the original material for the same year's A Colt is My Passport, A Certain Killer and A Killer's Key are similarly stylish contemporary hitman thrillers directed by Daiei's top director of jidai-geki, Kazuo Mori (The Tale of Zatoichi Continues) and starring the studio's top actor Raizō Ichikawa (Shinobi: Band of Assassins, Sleepy Eyes of Death). In A Certain Killer, Shiozaki's low-profile existence as a chef at a local sushi restaurant serves as a front for his true job as a professional assassin whose modus operandi is poisoned needles. He's approached by Maeda, a low-ranking member of a local yakuza group, to take out a rival gang boss. But the sudden arrival into his life of a spirited young woman, Keiko (Yumiko Nogawa, Gate of Flesh), has dramatic ramifications on his relationship with his new employer. Ichikawa's lone wolf assassin is back in A Killer's Key, this time masquerading as a traditional dance instructor named Nitta who is called in to avert a potential financial scandal that threatens to engulf a powerful yakuza group with ties to powerful figures in the political establishment. Co-scripted by the director Yasuzō Masumura (Giants and Toys, Blind Beast) and featuring masterful scope cinematography with an expressionistic eye for colour by one of Japan's most esteemed cinematographers, Kazuo Miyagawa (Rashomon, Ugetsu), these Japanese crime drama essentials are presented for the very first time to the English-language home video market. (88 Mins)

 

Views: Adapted from the popular Keishi Nagi novel Zenya by Daiei Film; a company formed in the late 1930s after three film companies were forced together by the Japanese government in an attempt to ration film-making and control all propaganda of their cinematic world, A Certain Killer follows the handsome Shoizawa, a former soldier who works as a chef at a small restaurant in post-war Kobe. But this easygoing job is only a cover for who he really is. Professionally, Shoizawa is an assassin for hire and known to be one of the best in his field. One day, he is offered 20 million yen to assassinate yakuza boss Owada – a job he accepts although soon learns that it comes with many problems!

 

Written by Blind Beast (1969) director Yasuzo Masumura and Yoshihiro Ishimatsu, A Certain Killer is a slickly made film that was followed by a sequel only months after it's initial release – A Killer's Key – and plays like a modern tale of samurai ronin, oozing a similar style and pace to many classics of French new-wave cinema from around that time. While not exactly gripping or packed full of excitement, the film still manages to hold your attention with it's stunning cinematography courtesy of Kazuo Miyagawa, the same eye behind classics such as Rashomon (1950), Yojimbo (1961), Lone Wold And Cub: Baby Cart In Peril (1972) and many of the fantastic Zatoichi sequels from 1966 to 1970. Of course, aside from that, A Certain Killer offered the chance to see superstar Raizo Ichikawa in one of his final roles before his premature death because of liver cancer, at the age of 37 in 1969. In fact, it is clear (to some degree) that Ichikawa was showing some symptoms of ill-health during the filming of A Certain Killer. One of the biggest stars of his time, impressing in many films throughout the 1950s including The Loyal 47 Ronin (1958), Ambush At Iga Pass (1958), Samurai Vendetta (1959), Satan's Sword (1960) and it's sequels, and hugely popular film series such as Ninja – Shinobi No Mono (1960) and Sleepy Eyes Of Death (1963). Of course, I can't forget about his fantastic roles in Kon Ichikawa's 1963 classic An Actor's Revenge and The Sword just a year later. While often seen as an action star of Japanese action cinema during this period, A Certain Killer gives Raizo the chance to slow things down somewhat – albeit for a few exciting and impressive fights – which may have also been down to his ongoing illness. Regardless, it's clear that Daiei were hoping to have yet another popular series on their hands with the star, but it was not meant to be with his passing. In fact, only a couple of years later, Daiei Films would eventually close their doors for good...

 

Kinji Fukasaku regular and celebrated Japanese star Mikio Narita shares the screen with Raizo as the second leading man of the film, playing his questionable colleague Maeda. Gaining fame by playing villains in many of his film roles, Narita appeared in a number of Daiei Films productions before leaving the studio to go freelance where he would find work with Toei Studios and the legendary, and aforementioned, Kinji Fukasaku – going onto star in his Battle Without Honor & Humanity series in 1973 and it's later sequels, as well as Graveyard Of Honor (1975), Cops Vs Thugs (1975), Yakuza Graveyard (1976), Shogun's Samurai (1978), Message From Space (1978), the awesome Samurai Reincarnation (1981) and other classics such as The Fall Of Ako Castle (1978), Resurrection Of The Golden Wolf (1979), G.I. Samurai (1979) and the incredible Ninja Wars (1982) and many more. As always, Mikio impresses on screen and is always a joy to watch. They are joined by feisty female Keiko, played with gusto and annoyance by Yumiko Nogawa who also starred in films such as Gate Of Flesh (1964), Story Of A Prostitute (1965), and Carmen From Kawachi (1966) – perhaps better known as The Flesh Trilogy. Interestingly, she would also star in the non-related Pleasures Of The Flesh (1965) around the same period, Chivalry Broken From All Sides (1966), Zatoichi And The Fugitives (1968), Horuriku Proxy War (1977) and more, going on to act in the film and television world through to 2016. While an unlikeable character here in A Certain Killer, Nogawa still delivers and isn't afraid to go all out when it comes to it.

 

While a standard hitman plot, A Certain Killer has a certain charm that helps make it a winner. But for me, it has to be the handheld, fast-paced, and hugely exciting final fight scene in a rundown graveyard that sees Raizo and Mikio take on a small army of thugs in a fight to the death. Brilliantly done, the fight scene also sees our hero use his belt as a weapon – predating that seen in both Jet Li's Fist Of Legend (1994) and Hitman (1998) – which became quite famous after it's release. Of course, I can't forget about the director at the helm; the legendary Kazuo Mori who went onto direct over 130 films throughout his career, as well as working in the television industry for some time. Starting in the 1930s, Mori went onto make some incredible works over the decades, although A Certain Killer has often walked a fine line for many critics between one of his best and one that could have been better. Personally, I felt that A Certain Killer – while simple in many respects – still saw Mori deliver, although it's obvious that he has done better without a doubt with many of the cast members having worked with him time and time again over the years. The same can be said for A Killer's Key; although it does come across a little more exciting if I'm to be honest!

 

Another super stylish crime-thriller, A Killer's Key comes from the same author and director, only this time shifting the faux job of Raizo's character from a restaurant chef to that of a master teacher of traditional dance. This also lends itself to Raizo Ichikawa's strengths that saw him begin his career as a kabuki performer, a skill that would lead to critics often pointing out Raizo's graceful body movements, often stating how many of his performances would see him deliver a more feminine act – something of which you can see clearly throughout his role here (which also helps cover up his true job as a hired killer). Politics, gangsters and assassinations shake things up in A Killer's Key that help make it a little faster-paced than it's predecessor. Running just a little shorter than A Certain Killer, coming in at just 79 minutes, A Killer's Key contains a top cast alongside Raizo Ichikawa such as prolific actor Ko Nishimura who had starred in almost 250 films from the early 1950s through to the mid 90s. These included titles such as Tokyo Mighty Guy (1959), The Lost Alibi (1960), The Bad Sleep Well (1960), Yojimbo (1961), High & Low (1963), 13 Assassins (1963), The Sword Of Doom (1966) and many more. Equally as impressive with just as many credits, and starring alongside them both, is Isao Yamagata who appeared in Seven Samurai (1954), The Master Spearman (1960), and Samurai Rebellion (1967) as well as a few of the Lone Wolf & Cub movies, Yagyu Chronicles series and others. And finally, starlet Ichiro Nakatani co-stars as the leading lady of the piece – impressing with her own filmography that saw her star alongside many of her fellow actors here and work under some of the finest directors.

 

Containing gorgeous restorations of A Certain Killer and A Killer's Keys, both of which are backed by two hugely informative and entertaining audio commentaries by the fantastic Tony Rayns, the Arrow Video Blu-ray release is beautifully presented and also includes a lengthy featurette by scholar Mark Roberts who breaks down both films with a look at those involved, while original trailers and image galleries for both are also contained...

 

Overall: Stylish, engrossing and brilliantly delivered, both A Certain Killer and A Killer's Key are two classics of Japanese cinema worth checking out!

 

Arrow Video Blu-ray Extras: Audio Commentary on both films by Tony Rayns, Mark Roberts on both films, Original Trailers for both films, Image Gallery for both films

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