Subscribe to watch - 14-day free trial, then £6.99 a month
Violent Cop
In his brutal directorial debut, βBeat' Takeshi Kitano plays a renegade cop who frequently resorts to violence and unethical methods to get results.
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Overview
Detective Azuma (βBeat' Takeshi) is a renegade cop who frequently resorts to violence and unethical methods to get results. While investigating a series of drug-related homicides, Azuma discovers that his friend and colleague is supplying drugs from within the police force. After his colleague is murdered and his sister is kidnapped, he breaks all the rules to dish out his particular form of justice.
Primarily known up to then as an eccentric gameshow host, Takeshi Kitano surprised Japanese audiences in 1989 with his unexpected directorial foray into violent yakuza films. But on the international scene, Violent Cop signaled the arrival of an exciting new filmmaking talent, while also introducing the world to his intriguingly deadpan acting persona of 'Beat' Takeshi. Kitano would become a key figure in 1990s arthouse cinema, producing a run of funny, brutal crime classics to rival the 70s work of Kinji Fukusaku.
Related
Hyena Hyena
Crime 2015 112 mins Director: Gerard Johnson
In this stylish, dark crime thriller, a policemanβs complex web of underworld relationships is threatened by an internal affairs investigator.
Project A Project A
Action and Adventure 1983 106 mins Director: Jackie Chan
Jackie Chanβs rip-roaring action-adventure about a coastguard hot on the trail of a ruthless band of pirates in late 19th century Hong Kong.
Beasts Clawing at Straws Beasts Clawing at Straws
Crime 2022 109 mins Director: Kim Yong-hoon
The lives of ten strangers collide when a cleaner finds a bag stuffed with money in this slick, jet-black comedy that unspools like a Korean Pulp Fiction. Starring Academy Award winner Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari).
A Bittersweet Life A Bittersweet Life
Action and Adventure 2005 120 mins Director: Kim Jee-woon and Doo Hong Jung
A hitman becomes the target in this ultra-stylish neo noir from Kim Jee-woon.
The Chaser The Chaser
Crime 2008 125 mins Director: Na Hong-jin
A disgraced ex-cop has twelve hours to stop the release of a serial killer in this acclaimed, multi award-winning cult classic.
The Street Fighter The Street Fighter
Action and Adventure 1974 91 mins Director: Shigehiro Ozawa
Legendary martial artist Sonny Chiba stars in this cult karate classic that's revered by Quentino Tarantino.
Sonatine Sonatine
Crime 1993 94 mins Director: Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano's masterful and meditative gangster film, about a yakuza sent to the beautiful beaches of Okinawa where he has time to ruminate on his fate.
Boiling Point Boiling Point
Crime 1990 97 mins Director: Takeshi Kitano
A young baseball player becomes mixed up with a psychotic yakuza, in Takeshi Kitano's hilarious and twisted crime tale.
Sonatine Sonatine
Crime 1993 94 mins Director: Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano's masterful and meditative gangster film, about a yakuza sent to the beautiful beaches of Okinawa where he has time to ruminate on his fate.
Watership Down Watership Down
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1978 92 mins Director: Martin Rosen
An apocalyptic vision pushes a group of rabbits to abandon their warren in search of a new home, in this landmark British animation.
Tchaikovsky's Wife Tchaikovsky's Wife
Biopic 2022 144 mins Director: Kirill Serebrennikov
Award-winning director Kirill Serebrennikov (Petrov's Flu) charts the tumultuous relationship between the 19th-century composer and his wife, in this poignant and powerful biopic.
Nezouh Nezouh
Drama 2024 104 mins Director: Soudade Kaadan
Enchanting feminist coming-of-age drama, from award winning Syrian director Soudade Kaadan.
The Turin Horse The Turin Horse
Drama 2011 155 mins Director: BΓ©la Tarr
BΓ©la Tarrβs devastating, starkly pared-down final feature, inspired by Nietzsche.
Werckmeister Harmonies Werckmeister Harmonies
Drama 2000 147 mins Director: BΓ©la Tarr
A stuffed whale sparks social apocalypse in this haunting cinematic masterpiece from BΓ©la Tarr and Γgnes Hranitzky.
The Man from London The Man from London
Drama 2007 139 mins Director: BΓ©la Tarr
Tilda Swinton stars in this profoundly nocturnal Georges Simenon adaptation.