Synopsis
The narrative follows a detective who travels to Los Angeles to investigate a series of bizarre murders linked to the Yakuza mob and a covert ninja assassin.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Louis DeStefano
- Cast:
- Emiko Ishii as Miko
- Masashi Ishizuka as Kenji
- Chris Spinelli as Chris
- Everett Smith as Lieutenant John
- Louis DeStefano as Detective Stefan
- Nicole D’Angelo as Nicole
- Benny Tjandra as Masa Ikeda
- Gregory Hatanaka as Takasi
- Warren Hong as Hiro
- Mike Wong as Kai
- Marco Torres as Police Chief (Japan)
- Saint Heart Starr as Rebecca
- Keiko Zinke as Keiko
- Wendy Winters as Dr. Winters
- Mir Waiss Najibi as Mir
- Bryan Brewer as Zac
- Mariano ‘Big Dawg’ Mendoza as Big Dawg
- Pete Allman as Rich
IMDb Ratings
As of now, “Yakuza Girl” holds an IMDb rating of 4.4/10 based on 9 user reviews.
Personal Insights
Set in Los Angeles, “Yakuza Girl” aspires to combine crime investigation with martial arts action. One of the interesting ideas in the film is the interweaving of various activities of Yakuza with that of a ninja assassin. But a scarce number of reviews and an average IMDb rating specify that the movie is somewhat inferior in capturing the wider audience.
Cultural Significance
The movie deals with topics of the yakuza syndicates, as well as the allure of the ninja traditions, but in an American context. This inter-continental plot could be helpful in understanding how Japanese subcultures are presented in Western movies. Still, the suggestiveness of the effect of such an attitude on cultural representation can hardly be assessed without further developments of a critique.
Where to Watch
“Yakuza Girl” is available for streaming on Tubi TV.
Conclusion
“Yakuza Girl” is a fun film, especially for those with an inclination towards the martial arts and Japanese themed crime films but judging from the reception it is likely to cherish limited viewers. Like always, each to his own, and for something like this film; views are personal.