Tetsuya Nakashima is a director that pops up every couple of years with a film that can only be described as 'ruddy good.' I first saw 'Kamikaze Girls' and 'Memories of Matsuko' within about an hour of each other a few years back and enjoyed both. I then anticipated and enjoyed (as much as you can) 'Confessions' which soon followed. So after a few years off, Nakashima returns with 'The World of Kanako', and was I excited?!

Akikazu Fujishima is an absolute bastard. A real piece of the proverbial. Losing his job as a detective due to his mental health, he soon gains alcoholism and a job as a security guard, but loses his wife and daughter. Living in his own filth, he suddenly receives a call from his estranged wife asking if he's seen their daughter. With a number of recent murders connected to his missing daughter, Akikazu soon becomes caught up in police investigations, frequent battles with his wife and gang violence. In true Hollywood-style, he decides to take the case of his missing daughter on himself, discovering the world of his daughter that he never knew, and maybe wishes he never did.

Starring Koji 'always in the big film' Yakusho as Mr Bastard, the film starts with Tarantino-esque retro titles, loud, brash and in your face. This sets the standard for two hours of intense, graphic and probably over-the-top cinema. 'The World of Kanako' is a good film, but you come away thinking that it could have been a bit simpler.

There are definite elements of the three previously mentioned Nakashima films all present here: The in-your-face, cartoonish styling of 'Kamikaze Girls'; the epic life story, enigmas and musical montages of 'Memories of Matsuko'; and the, at times, overly intense psychology of 'Confessions'. All are employed effectively here again, creating a extreme, dark and out-of-this-world experience for both the characters and viewers alike.

But, a little like Tarantino, things get a little indulgent here. Most obviously is the violence: blood splatters across pretty much every scene with teenage acne-like glee, with the make-up department working overtime in getting everyone's face suitably disfigured. Everyone hits everyone hard, with sound effects to match, and then they walk into the next scene for it all to happen again. While I don't mind a bit of violence on screen , when it's relentless it can become both a little boring and lacking impact.

The switching between past and present also gets a little overdone, though generally throughout is the film's strength in creating both mystery and builds as the film continues. Though by the end, the switching becomes too frequent, blurring the lines between the past and the present, with endless editing.

The films starts well, but starts to fall off as the end grows nearer. The violence becomes too much, cartoon-like in a film that creates an intense atmosphere. More and more characters come in towards the end, that maybe didn't need introducing. But disappointingly the intensity that is built throughout the film gets lost in this violence, seeing the viewer switch off and despite trying lacks the well rounded conclusion of 'Memories of Matsuko' and 'Confessions'. But Nakashima is a director that can certainly create an experience through cinema.

I have always believed that some people are inherently evil. They are born with twisted mentalities that no amount of psychological aid can help. These people learn to assimilate into society as best they can, but they are conniving, wicked and wholly untrustworthy. This film is the story of one such person, and her name is Kanako. In the vein of movies like "Audition" by way of Quentin Tarantino, this film is the tale of a very twisted girl from a very broken family. The more we learn about Kanako, the more we realize that she was rotten to the core, and nothing could have been done to rehabilitate her. Sure, her parents might be at fault for their lack of rearing, perhaps it was a mix of nature and nurture, or it could simply be that she is just a horrible human being with no redeemable qualities. Whatever the case may be, Kanako uses her looks, and her influence to deceive, torture and use anyone that she pleases, and as her parents find out just how twisted she is, the story goes from depressing to downright terrifying. The love of a parent for a child is unparalleled, but sometimes, parents have to recognize when their kids are just no good and ensure that they are permanently removed from society. This was one of the most disturbing, shocking and downright vile films I have seen in some time, and I loved every single minute of it.

The acting: Superb. The entire cast was amazing.

The Directorial style; Reminiscent of Quentin Tarrantino. You can tell that this director was a fan.

The cinematography; Beautifully shot, with many scenes equally beautiful and stomach churning.

Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys disturbing, gritty films that show the true nature of humanity. It is a portrait of a textbook sociopath, who destroys everything she encounters, leaving battered husks of humanity in her wake. It is not for the feint of heart, or those easily offended.

Yes you could say that is quite the pun in the summary line I used there. Sorry not sorry I guess. But apart from that and me riffing off another users pun (slightly), the movie really knows what it wants to tell us. And while that is never easy to watch, it also never gets boring either.

There is one scene in particular that I myself almost could not recover from. It is so vile, so brutal, that it was shocking and appaling to a degree where I would understand if people would stop watching - and maybe even feel a different, more negative way about the movie. Since I was able to watch Clockwork Orange, I guess I got over that too. Now I'm not comparing those to story wise. But when it comes to violence and how it is being used, I feel you could connect them.

Maybe the only thing that you could attest any similarity between the movies. This is way over the top for sure and not for the faint hearted or squeamish. There is so much violence (any form of it), you might get desensitized about it ... in the movie that is of course! I don't believe after this you'll have to go to anger management. And if you do, it does not have anything to do with the movie. The main character (and others in here) might have been better off, if they had used some of those classes ... but then you'd have a different movie I suppose ... really well made, but also as brutal as it can be ...