When I heard the Japanese film Broken Rage had dropped on Amazon last week, I knew I had to watch it. One, I’m a fan of a few of the actors, including Takeshi Kitano and Tadanobu Asano. Hell, Takeshi Kitano also wrote and directed the movie. That alone would get me a little interested. Two, the premise of the film is so bonkers that there was no way that I wasn’t going to watch it.
I’ll get into that premise very soon, but I just want to start by saying that Broken Rage might be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen and I love it so much because of it. It’s like a deep, cosmic horror version of stupid comedy that was made just for me. It’s my hole. It’s where I belong.
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What Is Broken Rage About?
So, that premise I was talking about. Without spoiling it – although this definitely spoils it – Broken Rage is two versions of the same film, back-to-back. The first version of the film is a John Wick-style crime movie with Kitano as a hitman who efficiently kills for a high fee despite living alone in humble, almost-squalid circumstances. The second version of the film is a Naked Gun-style parody of that same crime movie with Kitano as an incompetent hitman who sometimes succeeds at killing for a few bucks while living in humble, almost squalid circumstances (until he wrecks that, too).
And, for some reason, we also get moments of made-up internet commentary criticizing the film. That last part literally calls itself filler – which makes sense, since this movie adds up to just 67 minutes. Total. Both films. 67 minutes. That’s it. So, even if you’re not into it, that alone makes you a little interested.
Now, you must be thinking: The straight up action portion has to be great, right? Well. I wouldn’t say ‘great’ so much as ‘30 minutes of watching them set up the pins for the real fun coming after’. This movie was clearly shot on almost no budget, with the film quality more closely resembling modern FMV games like Late Shift. And because the whole story – in either version – is only about half-an-hour, we don’t really have time to learn about motives or reasons for things happening. They just happen.
But, and this is important, Takeshi Kitano is an incredible actor. He plays the quiet, contemplative killer with enough gravitas that it just works. You feel him emotionally lurch as this aging, weary murderer being used by the police (including a detective played by Tadanobu Asano, who is very aware of what movie he’s in) to catch a gang. He grounds it just enough for the next part to work.
Broken Rage Is A Japanese Naked Gun
The next part, though. Put on your chef hat and get ready to kiss your fingertips. After the first segment ends – and it really does end like an FMV game where you just got a sudden Game Over – we move onto the ‘spin-off’. The Naked Gun-style parody of the first movie. I’m saying ‘Naked Gun’, but that’s only because that’s the best Western comparison I can really make.
I’ll be real with you, some of the humor is very Japanese. That doesn’t mean the jokes are problematic for casual viewers – more that some of the moments don’t work if you’re not steeped in Japanese culture. I’m not saying that, like, “Ha ha, yeah, I got everything. I’m the smartest.” I’m saying that, like, there were moments I felt were probably meant for a different audience than myself. You’ll see.
But Naked Gun is about as good of a comparison as I’m going to have on hand. Instead of it being a contemplative short film on the nature of violence, it’s a man falling over again and again and again. Bumping into walls. Getting knocked over by crowds. Falling off a treadmill while hunting a victim at the gym. The mysterious cafe where he receives his killing instructions becomes a crowded joint where every chair and table are broken.
Swift, shocking murder scenes become embarrassing and ridiculous. Even the way he leaves crimes is different. In the first version Kitano walks with a calm, almost uncaring gait. In the second version, he jogs with his arms out like a confused Donkey Kong. He undercuts himself completely and it’s incredible.
I don’t want to ruin any of the gags, but there are truly moments in this movie that broke me like I haven’t been broken since Hundreds of Beavers. There’s a police interrogation scene in the first movie where the detectives are slapping Kintao’s killer around and talking about having ways to make him talk. We’re all aware of the trope. The second version of the film also has the detectives “having ways” to make him talk, but they’re such absolute nonsense that I’ve gone back and re-watched the scene at least three times.
One of the best moments of the first movie is when Kitano seamlessly switches outfits after a kill to evade police. One of the best moments of the second movie is when he panics while trying to find his other outfit and has to make do with nothing. I want to tell you what the joke is, but these moments are so good – and the film so brief – you have to take my word for it. Please. I’m begging you.
Look, not all the reviews of Broken Rage have been what I’d call ‘good’. It’s sitting at about a 6 out of 10 on most aggregate sites. The complaints are mostly the same. Not every joke works. The films are too short to build off each other. The self-aware nature of the filler doesn’t stop it from just being filler. Fine. Great. All respectable complaints! It doesn’t matter. You’re not paying to see this in a movie theater, you’re watching it on Amazon Prime which you probably already pay for.
It’s shorter than an annoying episode of a prestige streaming drama. I can’t emphasize enough how stupid Broken Rage is. Sure, it doesn’t always work. But when it does work, when it does come together, there’s nothing like it. Except for the comparisons I’ve already made. Those are kind of like it.
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