After a brief hiatus, multitalented Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano has returned to the genre he mastered back in the ’90s: bloody good yakuza crime films. Even more so than American mafia films, yakuza films lean on a strongly established chain of command and bursts of roaring violence. Kitano’s last few films have been introspective works about family and the Japanese film industry. These are great films, but it’s damn nice to see him pick up the gun and return to the yakuza with Outrage.

Kitano stars as Otomo, a mid-tier mobster in the Ikemoto family. Otomo’s boss has struck a deal with Murase, who heads a big drug business. This pisses off the Chairman, the head honcho of the entire yakuza – a seriously powerful man. The Chairman doesn’t want anything to do with drugs and he also sees the alliance between Ikemoto and Murase as a threat to his own power.

Under pressure by the Chairman, Otomo is instructed by Ikemoto to break off their alliance with Murase by any means necessary. What seems like a simple task leads to a hurricane of violence and desperate grasps for power and survival. As the turf war spirals out of control, everyone loses sight of whose side their really gunning for, even Otomo.

The film is structured using small, calm interludes in between blossoms of violence. During the interludes, we’re granted a look at the intricate (and sometimes tedious) day-to-day operations of the yakuza. Then once Otomo and his cohorts get an order, it’s on. This is Kitano’s most violent film and his best since the incredible Sonatine (which as I write this is available on Watch Instantly). In some moments the violence dances into cartoon territory, but it’s always beautifully shot. Blood pops in balletic bursts and Kitano’s acting during these scenes is hypnotic.

Otomo’s bullet-proof demeanor during acts of violence is wonderfully scary and Kitano chews scenes without saying a word. As the yakuza world drowns in pools of blood around him, Otomo remains cool as a cucumber. Makes you wonder why he’s not the Chairman. WHY ISN’T HE CHAIRMAN!?!? Anyways, behind and in front of the camera, Kitano kills it. And by “it” I mean everyone in the room.

Outrage is a relentlessly entertaining crime film that allows the audience to think they’ve figured out where the players stand. Then it pulls the rug out from under them and shoves a gun in their mouth. Masterfully directed and acted, Outrage is one kick ass little movie and an excellent return to form for the legend Kitano.

Outrage is available now On Demand and playing in limited release in NY and LA from Magnet Releasing.

- Oh Mars