Adapted from the ongoing manga novel series published in 2020 written by Akio Fukamachi and illustrated by Iizuka Keita, this live-action version stars former member of the Japanese boy band,V6, Junichi Okada. Known for his support acting role as Omura in “The Last Samurai” (2003), Harada also directed Okada in two historical films “Sekigahara” (2017) and “Baragak: Broken Samurai” (2021). Furthermore, Okada was in “The Fable” (2019) and its sequel “The Fable: the Killer Who Doesn't Kill” (2021).
The plot of “Hell Dogs” centers around Goro Idejuki (Junichi Okada), a young rookie cop. Devastated and traumatized after the brutal killing of the supermarket girl he loves during a robbery, he turns rogue and with only vengeance planted on his mind, he seeks the murderers out one by one and kills them. A killing spree which took him over ten years to complete. After turning himself in to the police, Chief Anai of the Metropolitan Criminal Police sees the potential in him and decides to give him a chance instead of putting him in jail. The catch is that he has to go undercover and infiltrate the Toshokai Yakuza family and put an end to their operation.
After getting a foot inside the said crime organisation, Idejuki, now known as Shogo Kanetaka, eventually became one of their trusted enforcers and they even paired him up with boyish Hideki Muroka (Kentaro Sakagunchi), the family's very own psycho killer. Accordingly, the pair continue to win more tests and finally gain the trust of boss Yoshitaka Toake (Miyari) who then promotes them to be his exclusive personal guards, the top “Hell Dogs” of the family. That works out just perfect since Chief Anai's order is for him to retrieve some secret files from Toake anyway.
Although films dealing with undercover cops and the Yakuza underworld are nothing new these days, somehow Harada menages to bring something refreshing in his version. The fantasy Yakuza world he creates is quite a feast for the eye in which the crime bosses live in huge, posh apartments, dress in designer suits and drive Hummer cars. Gone are the days where the gangsters hustle little old men in their corner shops. Furthermore, the outdoor location shots of abandoned buildings where most of the carnage takes place are certainly welcoming sights. The lighting effects used there also make them look more eerie and atmospheric with a touch of science fiction vibe to it.
Acting-wise, Junichi Okada's stoic performance and portrayal of the tormented ex-cop is top notch. Even though he is not a physically tall figure, in fact he looks the smallest standing next to the cast, he has a good presence which makes him stand out nonetheless. Equally impressive, Kentaro Sakagunchi's erratic turn as the Yakuza's top fighter doesn't go unnoticed and is amazingly energetic and entertaining. The pairing of these two actors is definitely the film's highlight and the great chemistry they share on screen is a delight to watch.
As it turns out, Okada also lends a hand in designing the film's action scenes which should not come as a surprise since he is a fight choreographer himself. One specific well calculated sequence truly shines as the film's action highlight centers around a female assassin in a restaurant which ends up in a tense shootout in the gang's hideout. At times, the action is very brutal and bloody when weapons are involved but overall the choreography is fluidly executed and well though-out.
The colorful collection of unique supporting characters from boss Toake, played by the cool Miyari to the sub-boss Toki (Kazuki Kitamura), his mistress Emiri (Mayu Matsuoka) and Bear, the secretary or the massage lady are all memorable individuals. Regardless, these are eccentric people, some with hidden secrets and they all help to move the plot along fittingly.
A complex crime story populated with interesting and compelling characters, Harada's story also touches on the code and the nature of the Yakuza life style. However, more back stories concerning some gang members would be a plus if they are further flashed out. Even though the production has a long running time of 137 minutes, the gripping action plus the overall solid performances and the fast moving plot make it a fairly entertaining and bearable.
