Sous le signe du tigre

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

Bobby Darin released a swing lp in 2002. It really wasn't the genre for his 1960's hits. But he grew up when swing was the most popular music. So he knew swing. This movie is made in the classic noir style. It is not the self-conscious, over the top, retro style like Sin City, or The Girl From the Naked Eye. No, whoever made this flick was old. They KNEW noir. But unfortunately in 2021, it is kind of slow, and cliched. Still gets five stars; because it is quality. Seen on Tubi, the free streaming site.

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.

From the crop of "Yakusa thrillers" made in the eighties, this one is easily the best. It has it all : a great actress (Virginia Madsen of "Candyman"'s fame), a good story unfolding almost like a Greek tragedy, good direction with more than one nod to John Woo… Yes, there are shoot-outs, but not ONLY shoot-outs. In more than one aspect, this movie reminded me very much of Gans's excellent and sensuous "Crying Freeman".

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.