Branded to Kill (1967)

Some folks say that Seijun Suzuki was a rubbish filmmaker, but I'm not one of those people. BTK is a masterful slice of late 60s Yakuza chic as seen by the modernistic mind and surrealistic eye of the director. It’s an odd film packed to bursting point with personality. Suzuki’s framing is beautifully aligned and balanced, even when his crazy storytelling isn't.
It’s the tale of a hired killer, Hanada, who wants to be the number one assassin. If he doesn't screw up, all he needs to do is kill the current number one to claim the title. But who is it? Does he even exist?
Along the way he meets a beautiful female whose allure and thirst for death complicates matters exponentially. And then there's butterflies...

4 warm sniffs out of 5