Yasha (1985) Demon

Directed by Yasuo Furuhata

Starring Ken Takakura, Takeshi Kitano, Yko Tanaka

Shuji is a fisherman, hes lived in the village for 15 years after moving from Osaka. But Shuji is hiding a secret, in Osaka he was a feared yakusa (gangster) which he escaped from after his sisters death. He has married and has children and fits in well within the fishing village.

Trouble arrives with the opening of the Hataru bar, the hostess is from Osaka and upsets the local wives who see her as a flirt and a threat but Keiko (the hostess) is not the problem, that comes in the shape of Yajima (Takeshi Kitano) her drug pushing lowlife boyfriend, in a scuffle with Shuji he rips the back of his shirt revealing the long hidden tattoo that marks him aa a gangster, a beautiful yet hideous Yasha (female demon).

Straight away the villagers assume the worst and do their best to avoid him and his family despite the fact that hes been helpful and friends with everyone, problems build up including advances from Keiko and more unwanted trouble from Yajima until Shuji has to revisit his old haunts in Osaka to try and sort things out.

While the film is revolved around the village and the fishing it is enjoyable, its only once it heads into typical gangster territory that it drags, shame because otherwise its a fine film.

Recommended for the first hour and a half, after that it drags into predictability that doesnt really sit well with the rest of the film. Fine performances from all involved.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 15

Available on Region 2 ntsc and Pal DVD's.