Hell Dogs is a gripping crime drama about a damaged police office who goes undercover with the Yakuza and forms bonds with his crime family. There is a lot of Donnie Brasco in here. The acting is great. The action and the violence is top notch. The film's cast is very strong. The direction and cinematography is as good as anything you will find in Korea or Hollywood. The same with the fight choreography. The film's story has been told in different ways but this one is effective and engaging. I really found myself riveted from start finish. These film's walk in the gray area where there is a fine line between the good guys and the bad guys, but maybe that is more realistic. I love the obsession with the Italian Mafia by the Yakuza. Japanese with English Subtitles.
13 Reviews
It is definitely worth your time
boboceaelena14 April 2023
Nice cinematography and story.
The characters are well developed and you really understand their motivation and why they are acting like that, they are also pretty different with different life stories that are very well acted out.
The violent scenes are very well masked-up so they don't seem that gritty nevertheless you manage to have the whole story.
I really liked the connection between the two leads, if was believable.
Nice soundtrack, it really manage to communicate the tension in a very subtle way. I would definitely look for the scores.
The twist at the end was interesting, I even had a moment " would he or wouldn't he do it"
The characters are well developed and you really understand their motivation and why they are acting like that, they are also pretty different with different life stories that are very well acted out.
The violent scenes are very well masked-up so they don't seem that gritty nevertheless you manage to have the whole story.
I really liked the connection between the two leads, if was believable.
Nice soundtrack, it really manage to communicate the tension in a very subtle way. I would definitely look for the scores.
The twist at the end was interesting, I even had a moment " would he or wouldn't he do it"
Not your typical action film
A_Different_Drummer19 December 2022
The idea of going undercover to get a job done is not new, in American cinema it probably goes back at least to Undercover Agent (1939). Police procedurals being popular, almost every other country on the planet has played with this genre also, and it is especially popular in Asia. Masato Harada is a senior director with decades of experience in Japan and this appears to have been his pet project. References in the film show that Harada was very familiar with the American "film noir" (as above), and in many ways Hell Dogs is almost an homage. That said, while direction and acting is sharp, and the action scenes razor-sharp, my concerns are the same ones mentioned in the overseas reviews. Running over 2 hours is just too long; long scenes of exposition with heavy dialog; long distances between action scenes; and so many characters to keep track of that the viewer gets the sense a pop quiz may be coming. Tighter editing would have helped. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Touches upon greatness
studleymoore2027-177-11018614 January 2023
I tuned into this film because of netflix. I
I consider myself a connoisseur of asian films it could have been just another straight justice story but it's emaculate filming and performances separate it. The story of an undercover cop catching out the criminals is one thing , The ending wasn't fleshed out enough to have the emotional impact expected. The story of this film is not difficult to understand but the film wants you to think it is. If I had to complain it would be against its runtime. 2 hrs and 17 minutes is madness!! It still works however and is still worth a watch. Despite all its downfalls it's still an incredibly strong film.
Yakuza undercover
searchanddestroy-18 January 2023
This scheme is not new: vengeance, undercover cop, so this violent crime flick from the Rising sun country is only destined to hardcore fans of this kind of material. It is well paced, with an atmosphere and directing elements specific to the Asian film methods; western film industries have of course another way to present and develop a story. I have seen better in the Japanese crime category, easier to follow. A bit too long, but most of those Asian films are rarely shorter. Many talkative parts are useless for me, to appreciate this movie. But I don't regret to have seen it. It is rare, it won't be available on DVDs, I guess, only on Netflix, so if you crave for this Japanese, or even Korean, crime movie.
Quite entertaining
jasminn_tan26 December 2022
I don't know much about how a Yakuza works but this movie was interesting enough to keep me watching until the end. I thought the colour grading in this was good but I don't know whether it's the way the movie was written or due to the editing choices in post production but I wasn't a huge fan of the way scenes cut and jumped between each other. As a result of, I found some parts jarring to watch.
The plot was alright but the pacing seemed a little rushed towards the ending. And because the ending was wrapping up quickly, some scenes were anticlimactic. I was watching and actually went, "oh is that it?" I wouldn't say I was disappointed but I thought it would've ended in a bang or something.
As for the characters, they weren't bad but their characterisation could've been better. I thought the characters were overall quite shallow but whatever, since this movie is most likely plot driven. The action scenes were good too, they were violent but not explicitly so.
The plot was alright but the pacing seemed a little rushed towards the ending. And because the ending was wrapping up quickly, some scenes were anticlimactic. I was watching and actually went, "oh is that it?" I wouldn't say I was disappointed but I thought it would've ended in a bang or something.
As for the characters, they weren't bad but their characterisation could've been better. I thought the characters were overall quite shallow but whatever, since this movie is most likely plot driven. The action scenes were good too, they were violent but not explicitly so.
A good dog or a good fella?
kosmasp25 December 2022
No pun intended - there is something about this story ... yes we have seen it before. It is not something new we really get served here. But the way it is presented is ... well you kind of can see that the director is seasoned as they say. This is not his first rodeo (if they had them in ... actually why shouldn't they have them in Japan?) ... but cultural things aside, this takes lessons from the West (noir, crime movies) as much as just being aware of its own culture.
The acting is really top notch - and the script is as tight as it has to be! It reminds me a bit of Johnnie To but also Kitano. Showing the trivial life in between shootouts ... showing the interactions between Yakuza ... but also how they present themselves to outsiders. A lot of research was done surely (I'm not calling anyone Shirley).
The movie knows what it wants and while it is two hours long (which may seem like a lot for some), it never gets boring ... not for one second! I understand that some may have issues with the characters presented ... and trying to keep track of them is not an easy task! But that also makes this movie re-watchable ... a lot! To say the least!
The fact that we deal with the Yakuza (sorry for the pun) also means that there will be a lot of violence! And the violence is as well shot as the scenes of dialog. This may not be action of fast paced - but you need the time to breathe in between! Especially after the movie gets really mad ... and to understand what the next move or step is going to be.
Characters are well drawn, but they also have codes of ethics that we may not entirely understand ... not all of us. The respect - the punishment ... where even the boss is not shown mercy if he screws up ... again, quite complex, but in the best way possible and imaginable! Glad I found it - and another example of Netflix doing things right.
The acting is really top notch - and the script is as tight as it has to be! It reminds me a bit of Johnnie To but also Kitano. Showing the trivial life in between shootouts ... showing the interactions between Yakuza ... but also how they present themselves to outsiders. A lot of research was done surely (I'm not calling anyone Shirley).
The movie knows what it wants and while it is two hours long (which may seem like a lot for some), it never gets boring ... not for one second! I understand that some may have issues with the characters presented ... and trying to keep track of them is not an easy task! But that also makes this movie re-watchable ... a lot! To say the least!
The fact that we deal with the Yakuza (sorry for the pun) also means that there will be a lot of violence! And the violence is as well shot as the scenes of dialog. This may not be action of fast paced - but you need the time to breathe in between! Especially after the movie gets really mad ... and to understand what the next move or step is going to be.
Characters are well drawn, but they also have codes of ethics that we may not entirely understand ... not all of us. The respect - the punishment ... where even the boss is not shown mercy if he screws up ... again, quite complex, but in the best way possible and imaginable! Glad I found it - and another example of Netflix doing things right.
Not a yakuza movie
eduaranguren1721 August 2023
I have seen a lot of oriental movies. And believe me: this one is an American movie "dressed" as an Asian one...
Is not a bad film, in fact action scenes are very well executed and fast; but paradoxically has an slow pace. The story is simple but again paradoxically extremely complex...
So, it isn't a typical and well made yakuza film.
The best: action scenes.
The worst: is boring and has an anticlimactic end...
I almost dropped it out, because is not what I want to see of oriental mafia. My review is probably very subjective and for that reason a lot of people may disagree with it.
5 out of 10 is fair enough.
The best: action scenes.
The worst: is boring and has an anticlimactic end...
I almost dropped it out, because is not what I want to see of oriental mafia. My review is probably very subjective and for that reason a lot of people may disagree with it.
5 out of 10 is fair enough.
Great action
edlc197019 December 2022
If you are into action, gangster and Yakuza movies, this one is for you. The acting is great and you are not bored one minute. Shogo Kanetaka (Junichi Okada) is a police officer, who suffers from trauma when his loved one was murdered. Since that horrific time, Shogo Kanetaka has only thought about revenge. He then receives an order to go undercover as a yakuza member. And the action just picks up. The narrative is pretty dynamic, so it seems it's always moving/progressing (which it is). There's also a couple of surprises and twists along the way, which add to whole movie. The action and suspense goes on for almost the entire movie.
Netflix has done a masterpiece with this one. Its a must watch.
Netflix has done a masterpiece with this one. Its a must watch.
Not easy-to-digest popcorn entertainment
muhdhafizchemalek20 December 2022
The film is not easy-to-digest popcorn entertainment, however. I was often on the edge of my seat, not only for the many hardcore action scenes staged for maximum blood-spattering and bone-crunching impact but also to figure out what was going on as characters rattled off reams of exposition.
The setting does not resemble that of a typical yakuza film, where low-level hoodlums chow down on convenience store food and run their scams out of hole-in-the-wall offices.
The film delivers mayhem with punch and panache at a blistering pace, though the two main protagonists sometimes escape certain death with what seems to be nothing but willpower.
The setting does not resemble that of a typical yakuza film, where low-level hoodlums chow down on convenience store food and run their scams out of hole-in-the-wall offices.
The film delivers mayhem with punch and panache at a blistering pace, though the two main protagonists sometimes escape certain death with what seems to be nothing but willpower.
Nice one.
ElokuvaUkko26 February 2023
Couldn't take protagonist seriously as he is supposed to be a fighter but from the fist shot it is obvious that he has never lifted a weight or even heard of a gym.
Regardless, the action is good and visceral.
The story is better than expected even if it has some wtf moments.
So if you just want some action with at least some quality this movie is well worth watching!
So to recap here are some things to improve upon:
Cinematography: most of the shots were generic with just a bunch of dudes walking around in obvious sets.
Please put more effort to cinematography, it can make or break a movie!
Also if someone is supposed to be an unstoppable fighter... he should look like one.
Finally, if you make an Yakuza action movie, the political side should be fast explained (like this movie did... in the beginning) Especially when everything eventually boils down to "KILL EVERYONE"
Anyway, watch it but don't think too much.
Regardless, the action is good and visceral.
The story is better than expected even if it has some wtf moments.
So if you just want some action with at least some quality this movie is well worth watching!
So to recap here are some things to improve upon:
Cinematography: most of the shots were generic with just a bunch of dudes walking around in obvious sets.
Please put more effort to cinematography, it can make or break a movie!
Also if someone is supposed to be an unstoppable fighter... he should look like one.
Finally, if you make an Yakuza action movie, the political side should be fast explained (like this movie did... in the beginning) Especially when everything eventually boils down to "KILL EVERYONE"
Anyway, watch it but don't think too much.
Another hidden gem
nabilanam31 October 2023
I was very skeptical about this movie because I was not familiar with Japanese movies. I am very glad that I have watched it.
Intriguing plot and amazing cast! It kept me on edge from time to time. Background music was well done and perfect..
The story is about loyalty, betrayal, revenge, love. If you like these types of movies, you will feel right at home. Story pacing is good. Don't expect mindless bang bang like other reviewer or your will be disappointed.
To be honest, I am glad that I have watched it. I have again witnessed that for foreign movies, IMDB rating is not something to rely on.
Intriguing plot and amazing cast! It kept me on edge from time to time. Background music was well done and perfect..
The story is about loyalty, betrayal, revenge, love. If you like these types of movies, you will feel right at home. Story pacing is good. Don't expect mindless bang bang like other reviewer or your will be disappointed.
To be honest, I am glad that I have watched it. I have again witnessed that for foreign movies, IMDB rating is not something to rely on.
Very underrated gangster movie
tbloutsos21 February 2024
The movie follows the plot of a secret agent who joins the yakuza, there's barely any filler in the whole film, it is a little ober 2 hours and there is so much happening during that time that at some point it feels like a different movie. Cinematography was pretty nice and the acting was decent. The movie does require your attention to understand the film with how fast paced and how filled to brim it is with characters. The action sequences were very nice, reminded me of a more realistic John wick and they are not dependant on quick cuts and shaky cams. I liked plenty of things about this movie, my only complaint would be that this movie is so fast paced that it feels like it could be better as a series. At times i couldn't understand what was happening, other than that i recommend it to anyone who wants to see a nice film about the yakuza.
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