Massacre Gun

When gangster movies exploded in Japan during the 1960s, Jo Shishido—an actor with chubby, acne-scarred chipmunk cheeks—became the genre's unlikely superstar, the hippest figure in a culture of cool killers and stylish gunmen. Shishido stars in this 1967 feature as Ryûichi Kuroda—loyal lieutenant of a vindictive crime boss—who breaks with his godfather after his little brother, a rising young boxer, gets a beating from the gang. The defiance leads to a war that pits Kuroda and his two brothers against the old guard, playing out in stylish set pieces that don't make much sense but look great. The opening sequence, appearing wordlessly under the credits (aside from the single line, "kill her"), sets the tone, with a tease of romantic rebellion pitted against Kuroda's tortured obedience—a conflict that will inevitably lead to tragedy. Directed by Yasuharu Hasebe, a disciple of cult filmmaker Seijun Suzuki, and shot in black-and-white widescreen with dynamic designs and graphic flair, Massacre Gun is a film where style is the substance, an entertaining Japanese gangster noir that will likely be appreciated by fans of Quentin Tarantino. Extras include new interviews with Shishido and film historian Tony Rayns, a photo gallery, and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)