Tokyo Drifter (Seijun Suzuki, Japan 1966)

In this jazzy gangster film, reformed killer Tetsu’s attempt to go straight is thwarted when his former cohorts call him back to Tokyo to help battle a rival gang. Director Seijun Suzuki’s onslaught of stylized violence and trippy colors is equal parts Russ Meyer, Samuel Fuller, and Nagisa Oshima—an anything-goes, in-your-face rampage. Tokyo Drifter is a delirious highlight of the brilliantly excessive Japanese cinema of the sixties.

"Seijun Suzuki, prominent B-film director, channels all his quirks and influences with cool effectiveness into this gem of a yakuza film.

FILM COMPANION

“A yakuza flick turned up to 11… A violent blast of cinematic disorder.”

TIME OUT

Trailer