Miike Takashi Talks Japanese Horror, Extreme Violence, Audience Reactions: Movie Theaters Offered Sick Bags to Audience Members

variety.com:

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor Lauded Japanese auteur Miike Takashi sat down for an in-conversation event with longtime collaborator and producer Misako Saka at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where he is also screening “Blazing Fists.” The duo discussed their partnership as well as the impact of the director’s work in Japanese and international cinema.

On 1999’s “Audition,” Miike said he still believes the film to be “terribly violent” despite not having “set out to make a violent film.” “It became a violent movie as a result of the main character and working with actors who wanted to release this kind of feeling.

I wanted to support actors to do more — if you want violence, just please go ahead.” Speaking of actors, the director recalled working with Tadanobu Asano on the seminal “Ichi the Killer,” which, upon release, saw movie theaters offering sick bags to audience members due to the extreme content.

Asano recently won a Golden Globe for best supporting male actor for his work on FX and Hulu’s hit series “Shōgun.” “He has appeared in Hollywood [before] but always focused on what he loves, what he wants to do and what he feels he should do,” said the director. “In that sense, he has always chosen roles that actors usually wouldn’t, and he has lived his life that way.