Spine 38: Branded to Kill

Seijun Suzuki's Branded to Kill (as well as next week's film, Tokyo Drifter) is a B movie Yakuza film from a guy who could make a B movie Yakuza film in his sleep who wanted to do something different. Released in 1967 Branded to Kill led directly to Suzuki being fired for turning in a completely "incomprehensible" film. Considering that Suzuki is a director who doesn't believe there's even such a thing as "film grammar", on it's surface the studio's criticism may have a point. After viewing Branded to Kill it's obvious that they do. It's also obvious why this film is cited as influential by John Woo, Quentin Tarantino, Park Jan-wook, and Jim Jarmusch.

It's a mess.

But it's a fun mess.