Rotterdam Review: Takashi Miike’s Blazing Fists is a Genre-Bending Sports Crime Film

      It’s difficult to determine what’s more charming about Takashi Miike these days: the fact that the director of Audition and Ichi The Killer continues to create work at an impressive pace (his most recent project, a TV movie remake of the long-running series Unfettered Shogun, was released just four weeks ago) or the evident enjoyment he derives from his craft. Miike's one-hundred-and-somethingth film, Blazing Fists, showcases a narrative focused on honor and loyalty, beginning with Ikutu (Danhi Kinoshita), a young man who punches another through a glass door. Set in a juvenile detention center, this confrontation sets off a series of events that will bond Ikutu and the man he defends, Ryoma (Kaname Yoshizawa), as they strive to become best friends. Their friendship will extend into the outside world, where both share a dream of participating in a televised UFC-style event called Breaking Down. Yagura serves as the film's occasional narrator, while also secretly serving time for robbing Ikutu’s father with a flick knife. If that doesn’t qualify as genuine pulp, I’m not sure what does.

      Miike’s versatility has always been one of his main assets; the question rarely revolves around which genre his latest work will explore but rather how many and in what sequence. In Blazing Fists, written by Shin Kibayashi, Miike blends elements of prison drama, boxing films, and mob flicks, creating a chaotic mix filled with broken bones. It's hard to catalog the film’s numerous telenovela-like plot twists, but the main storyline centers on Ryoma and Ikutu, alongside a loosely fleshed out backstory involving Ikutu’s father, who is facing trial for murder. As the plot unfolds, it’s revealed that the prosecutor’s son becomes the film’s ultimate antagonist. The initial set of foes consists of a group of former classmates seeking revenge on Ikutu for past events, while the second group, a rougher bunch known as The Krishna, adds to the conflict. Amidst all the tumult, Miike manages to include a scene where Ikutu and Yagura’s mothers share a lunch.

      To my knowledge, Blazing Fists is the first sports film in Miike’s extensive career, and it’s entertaining to witness the 64-year-old director engaging with the genre's common tropes. On his first day at the gym, Ikutu earns the team's respect by challenging the toughest fighter—a classic move. He seems to court danger by catching the attention of a girl who turns out to be the fighter's sister, as if there’s time for anything substantial to develop. The film's primary comic relief comes from the gym’s crafty owner, who sports a pencil mustache and a golden towel draped around his neck at all times. Among the film's approximately 20 distinct characters (kudos to the costume department), there are at least two twitchy sadists—a typical Miike trademark. One of these characters is portrayed with genuine menace by Gackt, a Japanese pop idol, and I found myself fascinated by how Miike visually codes his villain (complete with piles of loot, an ever-burning barrel fire, and a slot machine—hats off to the production designer) as well as the director's brief nods to influencer culture.

      Despite the abundance of narrative elements and Miike’s relentless effort to maintain momentum, the pacing doesn’t always match expectations. However, at its best, Blazing Fists moves swiftly with moments of surrealism and minimal irony. Consider the scene where Ikutu’s father, speaking through the plexiglass in the prison visiting room, tells his son to keep fighting and encourages him, an aspiring fighter, to do the same. I’m intrigued.

      Blazing Fists was showcased at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam.

      Grade: B-