Dead or Alive

1999 –

Japan –

105 mins

IMDB
6.7

Rotten Tomatoes
55%

Letterboxd
3.5

Dead or Alive follows the violent conflict between Ryuuichi, a ruthless yakuza, and Detective Jojima, who is determined to bring him down. As their lives spiral into chaos, the film builds to an explosive and surreal climax, blurring the line between justice and vengeance.

Cast: Riki Takeuchi, Show Aikawa, Renji Ishibashi, Shingo Tsurumi, Ren Osugi, Kaoru Sugita

Genre(s): Action, Crime, Thriller

Director(s): Takashi Miike

Writer(s): Ichiro Ryu

Review

*may contain spoilers

I watched Dead or Alive and the opening alone is one of the wildest things I’ve ever seen. In just a few minutes, Takashi Miike packs in drugs, murders, strippers, and pure chaos set to pounding music. It’s so fast and shocking I almost laughed from disbelief. Miike is basically daring you to keep watching and warning you this film won’t play safe.

After that insane start, the actual story kicks in. Ryu is a gangster trying to take over Shinjuku’s drug trade to pay for his younger brother’s education in America. Joji is a detective trying to help his sick daughter while dealing with crime everywhere. Both men are trapped and both end up losing almost everything. It’s a simple cops versus criminals setup, but Miike adds dark humor and sadness that makes it feel different.

The movie jumps all over the place. Some scenes are gritty and realistic, others feel like a cartoon. One minute it’s a serious crime drama, the next it’s absolute madness. There’s a drowning scene that’s almost unwatchable, yet somehow it fits perfectly in Miike’s world of filth and absurdity. Even when I wanted to look away, I couldn’t stop watching.

Visually, the film is strong. Fast editing, wild camera angles, and colorful lighting make everything feel raw and alive. Then suddenly Miike gives you quiet, beautiful moments like Ryu’s gang resting by the sea or Joji at home with his family. These breaks show their humanity right before everything collapses again.

The ending is completely ridiculous in the best way. After all the violence and tension, the final fight between Ryu and Joji turns into something from a comic book. There are explosions, flying cars, even a rocket launcher. It’s so sudden and over the top that it feels like Miike is laughing at us. But honestly, it’s the only ending that could work for a movie this wild.

Dead or Alive is part crime drama, part twisted joke about the genre itself. It’s uncomfortable and not for everyone, but it’s absolutely unforgettable. Miike goes too far on purpose, and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.

– written by sankalp