It’s been a while since I saw this movie but the memories still remain. That might be because it is actually a very good one. Or maybe because Yakuza inside life is amazingly attractive to watch. Especially when it is so perfectly portrayed. Outrage is considered to be one of the best mafia movies.
The fact that it is entirely made in Japan adds an absolute solemnity to it. It displays, in a really quiet way, how the power mechanisms work inside the mob. This thrilling Japanese crime film is a must-watch for genre fans.
The Plot: A Quiet Look Inside the Japanese Mafia
The core of Outrage focuses on the Sanno crime syndicate, one of the largest in the Kanto region. A seemingly small misunderstanding between the Otomo and Murase clans quickly escalates, forcing the Chairman to step in.
It’s extremely hard to put up with all the names and positions in the complex hierarchy, and there is continuous switching back and forth, but it is still really thrilling to watch. Outrage shows the perfect irony contrast between the flag of loyalty they bear and the fact that in the end anyone can betray anyone, even while risking their own lives.
Our Final Review: A Film for Genre Fans
This is a movie for genre fans. I don’t think someone with a great love for romantic comedies will enjoy it. Specifically because the action is not that much for a standard “action movie,” and the dialogs are long. It’s quiet and with lots of interconnections between family names and wrongdoings.
It’s a good way to start to know how things work in the Yakuza underworld, a world that is really different from ours, and to which we wouldn’t have any way of getting to know it otherwise. I really liked it—it’s somehow slow, but enjoyable and fun.
Outrage (2010) Full Cast List
The movie features several strong names on the cast, with performances that successfully convey the tension and brutality of the Japanese mafia.
Otomo Clan
- Takeshi Kitano (Zatoichi) as Otomo.
- Kippei Shiina (SPEC: First Blood) as Mizuno
- Ryo Kase (SPEC: First Blood) as Ishihara
Murase Clan
- Renji Ishibashi (A Good Husband) as Murase
- Hideo Nakano (Zebraman 2) as Kimura
- Takashi Tsukamoto (Railways 2) as Iizuka
Ikemoto Clan
- Jun Kunimura (Monster’s Club) as Ikemoto
- Tetta Sugimoto (Night People) as Ozawa
Sanno Clan
- Tomokazu Miura (Strawberry Night) as Kato
- Soichiro Kitamura (Liar Game) as the Chairman
- Fumiyo Kohinata (A Ghost of a Chance) as Detective Kataoka
[Note on the Sequel] I had no idea that there was a second movie, Beyond Outrage (2012). I was really happy when I found out, and will review it soon, since I already saw it.
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Visitor Rating: 10/10