Review by tenshi_ippikiookami

Niijima is a man without a life. His daughter was killed six years ago, and he just got his revenge against the man that killed her. But then an old acquaintance offers him the chance to join his business, and even though it is pretty obvious it is a shady one, Niijima agrees.

"Eyes of the Spider" is a very interesting movie, full of moody moments and long shots, that depicts the life a man that takes the path of violence and destruction. Niijima just doesn't seem to have a clear focus in life, and so, it is not much a problem for him to descend into death and darkness. Kiyoshi Kurosawa does it in a very interesting manner, with short moments full of contained violence, silence and surrealism, the camera fixed on the characters. It is a very solid direction with a very clear and personal style. The acting is quite good too, Shô Aikawa doing a good job, and all those other famous Japanese actors keeping the level.

It is not especially original, as in the plot department it's just a typical yakuza movie, but that doesn't take from a very interesting depiction of a sick world. And it has some quite funny surreal moments, as Ren Ôsugi's Yoda conversation with Aikawa's Niijima in the middle of the street.