Year: 2002
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Written by: Ryuichi Takatsu
Main cast: Kanae Uotani, Kazuki Kitamura, Tak Sakaguchi
Genre: Action, Yakuza, Horror, Fantasy
Runtime: 15 min.
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: Japanese, english
Buy DVD: CDJapan.com
Part of a collection of short films (Jam Films). An underworld gang leader is visited by a mysterious woman calling herself The Messenger. The boss believes her to be nothing more than an urban myth: a female assassin who eliminates those that cross her path. However, this woman's words will not only change his life but will reach out to his very soul.
The Messenger, first movie of the collection Jam Films, is indeed a nice short. Very stylish direction, black and haunted atmospheres for an original ghost-yakuza story, full with suspence and gunplay. The beautiful Kazae Uotani is a perfect main character, mysterious and ethereal as a dark doll. Kazuki Kitamura is a charming yakuza boss. Tak Sakaguchi instead plays Judas, the traitor body-guard: handsome, bad and obscure. You'll have to see this movie.
Rating: 7/10