About Kill!

Kill! is a 1968 satirical Japanese-action movie directed by Kihachi Okamoto. It is based on the novel "Peaceful Days" by Shugoro Yamamoto. The film humorously intertwines the overcomplicated plots of political double-crossing and the outlandish behaviors of its characters. For many, the movie decks out a contemplative outlook on violence, betrayal, and honor while providing deeply intentional entertainment.

Making / Production

'Kill!' was produced by the famed Toho Studios and overseen by director Kihachi Okamoto. The film's screenplay was written by Akira Murao and Kihachi Okamoto, a combination that resulted in a perfect blend of action, drama, and subtle humor. The cinematography by the legendary Rokurô Nishigaki provides the film with brilliant aesthetics that capture both the gritty and subtle moments of the storyline.

Actors

• Tatsuya Nakadai as Genta: Nakadai delivered a brilliantly nuanced and layered portrayal of a wandering samurai who's gotten disillusioned by senseless violence.
• Etsushi Takahashi as Hanji: Takahashi gave a spectacular performance as a poor farmer who dreamed about being a samurai.
• Naoko Kubo as Tetsutaro: Kubo played the character cunningly and skillfully, giving a lovable charm to her role.
• Shigeru Kôyama as Monnosuke Takei: Kôyama played his character with a brutal yet compelling force, making him a memorable antagonist.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• A significant part of Kill!'s humor and social commentary stems from its intermixing of samurai film and spaghetti Western tropes, a cinematic cross-pollination prevalent in the late '60s.
• 'Kill!' is considered an essential part of Japanese New Wave cinema, a film movement known for its radical and confrontational subject matters.

Quotes

• "Living is difficult, it means you have to keep making choices." - Genta
• "I could have killed them all with one stroke." - Hanji

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack was composed by Masaru Sato, whose contributions provided a dramatic and thrilling backdrop to the action on screen.
• The score captured a diverse range of musical themes integrating traditional Japanese music with Western influences to highlight the movie's thematic cross-cultural references.

NOTE:

There are no noteworthy awards for this film, hence the 'Awards' section is not included.