Branded to kill (1967)

	Also Known As: Korochi no rakuin
	Year of first release: 1967
	Director: Seijun Suzuki
	Actors: Jo Shishido, Mariko Ogawa, Annu Mari
	Country: J
	Genre: Polar, Comedy
	Conditions of visioning: 11.12.2015, DVD, Japanese version with German subtitles
Synopsis: A hit-man, Goro Hanada (Shishido), with a fetish for sniffing boiling rice, fumbles his latest job, putting him into conflict with his treacherous wife Mami (Ogawa), with a mysterious woman eager (Mari) for death and with the phantom-like hit-man known only as Number One.
Review: The story is full of suspense, especially the mystery of the "organisation". Unfortunately these contrast with moments full of boredom where nothing happens for minutes or where a scene with the typical Japanese woman screams is almost repeated. The different surprises on both professional and personal fronts for Goro are really funny and typical of the modern Japanese sense of humour. Completely crazy things done by the hero. The acting is fine even if the exageration of Mami's role makes it quite heavy. Even for the boring scenes the directing and the camera driving is good.
Rating: 5 /10