ryuganji: film news from japan

After the relatively well-financed excesses of “Sukiyaki Western Django”, what’s next for Miike Takashi? Diehard fans will no doubt be happy to hear he’s returned to his low-budget V-Cinema roots for a violent comedy horror quickie entitled “Tantei Monogatari” (literally “Detective Story”) starring Izo himself, Nakayama Kazuya, and Maki Claude from “A Scene at the Sea”.

Private detective Kazama Raita (Nakayama)’s new neighbour is a dude with same name, Takashima Raita (Maki). From the moment he moves into the apartment next door, Takashima finds himself being tailed by the shady Kazama.
One night, a female client of Kazama’s is found dead minus her liver, followed by a second and a third victim, one with their kidneys ripped out and the other sans lungs. The two Raitas attempt to uncover the truth, which has something to do with a tragic genius by the name of Aoyama Yuki…

The eclectic cast includes Hasegawa Tomoharu, Kikuchi Akiko, Inoue Harumi, Ato Kai, Watanabe Hiroyuki, Onishi Asae, Nakakura Kentaro, Shiroishi Tomoya, Steven A Haynes, Suekichi, Hayashiya Pe & Pako, Izam, Kakuda Nobuaki, Kazama Toru, Maki Hisao and the legendary Uchida Yuya.

The film will be playing late shows only at Tokyo’s Cinemart Roppongi from September 29th, presumably followed by a swift DVD release. (sources: Cinematopics & fjmovie.com)