Oni Goroshi

'Demon City (2025)' is a Japanese adaptation of Masamichi Kawabe's 'Oni Goroshi' manga, a stripped-back actioner that essentially aims to be a cross between 'John Wick (2014)' and 'The Raid (2011)' but never manages to be as good as either. It isn't bad, and it's nothing if not intense, but there's just this vague sense that it's missing something, that it's underwhelming even as it's utterly sprinting towards its inevitably violent conclusion. Its plotting is predictable and its narrative incredibly generic, but that often doesn't matter much with movies as high-octane as this, so I'm a little puzzled why it never quite lands. It does most things right, but it just feels wrong somehow. The generic score sounds like it's comprised mainly of stock audio, the sound effects leave something to be desired and often reduce the impact of the admittedly savage action, the editing is sometimes noticeably choppy (even if it's often for dramatic effect), and the choreography is never quite as exciting as it feels as though it should be on paper. To be fair, the set-pieces are energetic, often creative, and driven by impressive stunt work that really sells the heightened mayhem they depict. They're also incredibly bloody, spewing so much crimson liquid across the frame that it's a wonder you can see past it. There's always this sense that they're never quite living up to their potential, though, even as they're undeniably getting the job done. I'm aware that my criticisms of the flick mostly boil down to "something's missing", and I can't even identify exactly what that something is, but that genuinely is the prevailing feeling the feature evokes. Everything comes together quite nicely in the uber-brutal finale, which crescendos in a painful one-on-one which really puts the baddie's theory that the protagonist is possessed by a demon to the test. The actual ending is slightly clunky in the way that it initially seems to be setting up a sequel, only to undercut this expectation to provide a definitive finish that's fairly satisfying despite the inelegance of the moments leading up to it. Still, it's ultimately pretty tricky to shake the feeling that this could have been a lot more fun. It's a good example to use when trying to articulate how the best movies seem to be more than the sum of their parts, to have some kind of electric energy coursing between their edits, because the fact that the only thing this lacks is that intangible movie magic acts as pretty solid evidence for its existence. I can't quite put my finger on why, but this is undeniably vaguely disappointing (even for something I'd never heard of before today). It certainly isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Even though it isn't massively compelling, it's a relatively entertaining experience that moves fast enough that it never outstays its welcome. At the very least, it will almost certainly satisfy you if you're feeling particularly bloodthirsty (and if it doesn't, you might just be a psychopath). It's a perfectly decent actioner. It's just that, with a bit of refinement, it could have been a really good or even great one. Your mileage may vary, but it left me wanting more.

It had been a while since i watched a Japanese martial art movie, so as i saw this on Netflix and with the French dubbing nontheless, i sure gave it a shot.

The first issue i had was that the plot is barebone. The old classic of retiring hitman have to be taken out by former boss has been seen a million time sure, but normally you at least are given a reason to care for the character. Sure his familly is murdered but outside of that, you see so little of that guy and he pretty much have the personnality of a broom, so its hard to care.

As for the rest, well sure there is some decent action with no refrain on blood and violence, but its like the movie never decide what it want to be. Is he supernatural or just a man? Is this a serious revenge flick or its supose to be goofy (despite the violence). It never decide.

You really have to turn your brain off to enjoy it even middly. Personally i was never "bored" per say, but i rolled my eyes a few times. I would say its a 5.4 out of 10. So it get a 5 ultimately. Its average. Watchable, but its not one i will revisit.

I have seen bad movies before, start to finish, and it is not often that I actually consider stopping before it ends.

The sheer number of deadly blows and stabs that the main character receives, yet still continues 'figthing' with speed and strength - not to mention surviving - has made this worse that some of the worse cartoons ever.

I used to think that even the worst movie can teach me something, but this one here changed that idea forever. There were so many ways in which they could have saved this from being an absolute pile of ridiculousness that I am thinking of actually starting making movies myself, and even if I get hid in the head by a horse and I lose my brain's ability to maintain bodily functions i'm sure i would still do a better job than this.

"Demon City," is a Japanese revenge thriller directed by Seiji Tanaka and based on Masamichi Kawabe's manga "Oni Goroshi." The film follows Sakata (Toma Ikuta), a hitman who, after surviving an attack that killed his family, embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance against the gang responsible.

The movie delivers on its promise of intense martial arts sequences, gravity-defying stunts, and choreographed fight scenes that keep viewers interested. Even for those accustomed to the over-the-top action of Indian cinema, "Demon City" offers a familiar experience, but nothing beyond that.

Even the background score, composed by Tomoyasu Hotei, known for his work on Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill," was not as intense, though the music complements the film's tone. The cinematography is noteworthy, with clear visuals that don't strain the eyes-a common issue in many modern action flicks.

However, the film's foundation feels somewhat weak. The antagonist's character development is limited, and the plot contains noticeable holes. Addressing these issues could have elevated the film to a higher standard.

In conclusion, "Demon City" is a high-octane action film that delivers thrilling sequences and strong performances. While it has its shortcomings in narrative depth, it remains an engaging watch for fans of the genre.

In a down-on-its-luck port city the world's most skillful assassin does one last job before retiring to an idyllic life of ... just kidding, obviously; within 30 minutes of his retirement some bad guys set him on the path to a decade-spanning vendetta. The story is pretty goofy. The script can't seem to decide whether or not it wants to be taken seriously and/or how overt or illusory to make its supernatural implications. Important plot points are just retconned into existence via expositional dialogue or cutaway flashbacks.

But at least there's lots of violent bloody action and the antagonists rock some decent Oni masks. It's all style and no substance but enjoyable as over-the-top fun.