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Tokyo Drifter

Tokyo Drifter

Thriller · Crime · Action · 1966

After yakuza boss Kurata dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo. When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper", a ruthless gun-for-hire, to assassinate him. As the Viper trails his target through the countryside, the agile Phoenix Tetsu grows concerned that one of his former associates has betrayed him.

Movie details

Tokyo Drifter

1966 Thriller · Crime · Action 1h 23m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

After yakuza boss Kurata dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo. When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper", a ruthless gun-for-hire, to assassinate him. As the Viper trails his target through the countryside, the agile Phoenix Tetsu grows concerned that one of his former associates has betrayed him.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Tokyo Drifter?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Seijun Suzuki

Written by

Kōhan Kawauchi

Tetsuya Watari

Tetsuya Watari

Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo

Chieko Matsubara

Chieko Matsubara

Chiharu

Hideaki Nitani

Hideaki Nitani

Kenji Aizawa

Tamio Kawachi

Tamio Kawachi

Tatsuzo the Viper

Eiji Gō

Eiji Gō

Tanaka

Tomoko Hamakawa

Tomoko Hamakawa

Mutsuko

T

Takeshi Yoshida

Keiichi

Court is in session

Put Tokyo Drifter on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.