Films like Ichi the Killer.

Ichi the Killer (2001) reads as Heavy, kinetic, extreme crime / horror, surreal in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Ex Drummer (2007) poster
1. Ex Drummer2007

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Cold Fish (2010) poster
2. Cold Fish2010

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Natural Born Killers (1994) poster
3. Natural Born Killers1994

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Life and Death of a Porno Gang (2009) poster
4. The Life and Death of a Porno Gang2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Kill List (2011) poster
5. Kill List2011

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Three... Extremes (2004) poster
6. Three... Extremes2004

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

15 (2003) poster
7. 152003

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Tokyo Fist (1995) poster
8. Tokyo Fist1995

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the white-knuckle intensity; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

High Tension (2003) poster
9. High Tension2003

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Martyrs (2008) (2008) poster
10. Martyrs2008

Keeps the pitch-dark outlook and the white-knuckle intensity; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Moebius (2013) poster
11. Moebius2013

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Princess (2006) poster
12. Princess2006

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a bone-dry seriousness.

These are Ichi the Killer’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →