Rainy Dog

Rainy Dog is the second film in Takashi Miike’s Black Society Trilogy. While Miike is famous for violent shockers like Ichi the Killer and Audition, this one is different. It’s quieter and more emotional. Set in a gray, rain-soaked Taipei, it tells a slow, sad story about loneliness and unexpected connections.

The main character is Yuji, a Japanese hitman hiding in Taiwan after getting kicked out of his gang. He takes killing jobs for a local boss but lives a dull, empty life. One day, a woman dumps a young mute boy at his door, claiming he’s Yuji’s son. The boy, Ah Chen, can’t speak and just follows Yuji everywhere, even when ignored. Yuji shows zero interest in being a father and even leaves the kid outside in the rain.

But slowly, something shifts. Yuji starts caring for the boy. He also meets Lili, a prostitute desperate to escape her miserable life. These three broken people form an unlikely bond as they run from gangsters and search for some kind of peace. It’s a strange family born from loneliness and survival.

The movie moves very slowly and focuses on mood over action. Most scenes are quiet with long shots of rain, still faces, and melancholy music. The constant rain creates a hopeless, suffocating atmosphere. You can feel the influence of Wong Kar Wai and Takeshi Kitano in the calm pacing and long silences. Some people might find it boring since there’s barely any action for a gangster film.

Sho Aikawa is excellent as Yuji. He starts cold and dead inside, but you see him change bit by bit. The boy doesn’t speak, but his presence gives the film its heart. Their small moments of warmth hit hard because they feel earned. Rainy Dog is less about crime and more about damaged people trying to connect. It’s one of Miike’s most touching works, quiet and thoughtful. If you like slow, emotional stories, give this one a chance.