La marque du tueur

After watching in horror as her young son is shot and killed in an ambush by a Yakuza hit-man upon a leader of the Italian mafia, a woman named "Gina Hayes" (Virginia Madsen) sets out to track down and kill all of those responsible. To that end, after buying a gun she subsequently hires on as a waitress at a nightclub frequented by members of that specific Japanese organization. In the meantime, however, the battle between the two rival groups becomes even more heated and this creates great difficulty for everyone involved. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this initially appeared to be a polished Hollywood production which had a good cast and definitely showed some promise. Unfortunately, like so many films made during this day and age, there was a lack of realism which strained its credibility to a certain degree. Additionally, the chemistry between Virginia Madsen and Toru Nakamura (as the Yakuza assassin by the name of "Seiji") was rather tepid as well. Having said that, however, I don't believe that this was necessarily a bad film by any means and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Revenge turns nice "Gina Hayes" (Virginia Madsen) into a cold-blooded killer. In a nutshell, her son is accidentally shot. Some scumbag was aiming for another crook in a mob shootout, missed, and killed Gina's young son instead. Gina only remembers seeing a red tiger tattoo on the guy's chest. Her plan is to find this guy so she has sex with a number of them with the sole purpose of seeing if they have this tattoo.

Madsen looks very hot in here but the best parts are the action scenes. Overall, it was good but so much like so many other revenge films that it got lost in the shuffle among the many of the movie of this genre in the '70s-'90s.

It's still worth a look, and now that it's out on DVD I wouldn't mind seeing it again because Director Noberta Barba put some style into this film.

Searing, passionate and stylish revenge thriller that rises above its b- grade formula due to its well-written character dramas lead by a powerful performance from Virginia Madsen. Its her character's fierce determination of a mother that drives it, especially in her commitment as she gets the tattoo of the avenging red tiger on her back. Madsen really takes it upon herself to portray a damaged individual who's desire for revenge sees her character entering the dangerous underworld of the Japanese mafia seeking the identity of the killer of her son who was caught in the crossfire during an Yakuza hit. The only clue driving her was the glimpse of a tattoo of a blue tiger across the killer's chest. Fearsome action with heated drama and cold straight-faced villains… no surprises with the intrigue, but its well-made and there's perfect support parts led by Harry Dean Stanton.

Gina Hayes, a grieving mother driven to vengeance after her young son is killed in a Yakuza crossfire. Identifying the killer only by a distinctive blue tiger tattoo, Gina infiltrates the Japanese underworld of Los Angeles, seeking retribution.

Director Norberto Barba's 1994 offering Blue Tiger rises well above standard straight to video fare, delivering a moody, atmospheric thriller that's executed with care and style. Christopher Walling's cinematography brings an unexpected polish to the production, capturing the neon-lit streets, murky backrooms, and shadowy interiors with a noir sensibility. Despite its modest budget, the film's visual style and pacing enhance the gritty tone throughout.

Virginia Madsen gives a strong, driven performance, convincingly charting Gina's transformation from heartbroken mother to vengeful huntress. Toru Nakamura oozes sleek menace as Seiji, while Ryo Ishibashi (also seen in American Yakuza) lends subtle gravitas as another figure in the Japanese underworld. Harry Dean Stanton turns up in an extended cameo as a tattoo artist, adding reliable presence, while an uncredited Michael Madsen cameo adds a familiar face for genre fans. The supporting cast features Yuji Okumoto (The Karate Kid Part II) as a sharp detective and Dean Hallo, known for his role as a henchman in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, adding to the film's characterful line-up.

Though Blue Tiger saw only a direct to video release, particularly in the UK, it stands out for its simple yet effective story, written by Takashige Ichise and Joel Soisson, its atmospheric visuals, and confident execution.

Overall, a solid, stylish slice of 90s neo-noir revenge, and one that's worth seeking out.

After her son is shot and killed in a Yakuza hit, Virginia Madsen goes after the killers, using an ancient Japanese myth about dragon tattoos to plot her revenge. Unlike another female assassin film, "Ms. 45", the plot here is not straightforward, and is somewhat unpredictable. The movie is well photographed, and has an outstanding rhythmic soundtrack, that reminds me of the work of Philip Glass. There is plenty of violence, and things progress at an acceptable pace. It should be noted that Harry Dean Stanton has a very limited part as a tattoo artist. As female revenge thrillers go, "Blue Tiger" ranks with with the best of them. Recommended viewing. - MERK