The City of Lost Souls (Hyôryû-gai) (2000)

58% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(2,844 ratings)

The fantastically prolific Takashi Miike directs this dizzyingly stylish thriller -- one of four in the year 2000 alone -- about love, cocaine, and exile. In the film's near-wordless opening, half-Japanese Brazil Mario (Teah) wipes out a room full of his fellow criminals in a bar in Sao Paolo and… More The fantastically prolific Takashi Miike directs this dizzyingly stylish thriller -- one of four in the year 2000 alone -- about love, cocaine, and exile. In the film's near-wordless opening, half-Japanese Brazil Mario (Teah) wipes out a room full of his fellow criminals in a bar in Sao Paolo and then strips naked in the dust storm outside. Mario is next seen one year later rescuing his Chinese girlfriend, Kei (Michelle Reis), from being deported. The event, which involved the hijacking of a helicopter, a gun fight amid the Joshua trees of the vast Japanese desert (!), and a harrowing 80-foot leap into Tokyo's Shinjuku district, instantly becomes the stuff of legend among Japan's large and beleaguered foreign population. Desperately wanting to get out of the country, Mario and Kei get entangled with a coke deal that goes sour between Mr. Ko (Mitsuhiro Oikawa), an effete though deadly Chinese mobster with unwholesome designs on Kei, and Fushimi (Koji Kikkawa), a psychotic yakuza who brutally kidnaps a blind orphan for his own terrible ends. Kung-fu cockfights, murderous Ping-Pong matches, and religious miracles ensue. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Takashi Miike
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: May 25, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Aug 6, 2002

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
There's enough atmosphere, mayhem and just plain energy to make the film a viable midnight movie, a more appropriate slot than a regular run.
Dave Kehr, New York Times
[Miike's] work is fun to look at but emotionally unengaging, perhaps because he can't summon enough belief in his pulp-fiction characters to make them come alive.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Moody yet mischievous, this multicultural mafia mash-up might make a mad Miike admirer of you.
Paul Malcolm, L.A. Weekly
While the film throws a solid pop punch, you could still swear you've seen it all before.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Tireless Japanese splatter director Takashi Miike's keeps his own worst impulses check, and the payoff is a satisfying and uncharacteristically romantic film.
Mike D'Angelo, Time Out New York
An empty, incoherent exercise in frenetic style, interesting primarily for its cosmopolitan flavor.
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
...unleashes more creative imagery, cinematic mayhem and stylistic energy in that opening half hour than most films can muster in an entire feature...
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
It feels utterly hollow despite Miike's wizardry.
Bryant Frazer, Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus
A well-dressed crime drama with an undercurrent of profound sadness.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jonathan H

The City of Lost Souls is sprawling, and at times meandering and unfocused, but you have to applaud Miike's inventiveness and the way he plays with form and technique. Sure, the plot, performances and general tone is completely over the top, but if you can look past that (which,… More
The City of Lost Souls is sprawling, and at times meandering and unfocused, but you have to applaud Miike's inventiveness and the way he plays with form and technique. Sure, the plot, performances and general tone is completely over the top, but if you can look past that (which, truth be told, is tough to do), you'll see some terrific long takes, very compelling and unique camera angles (including a toilet POV shot), thought-provoking examples of mise-en-scene, well choreographed action scenes, and some weird Matrix and Blade spoofs. Miike has been called the "wild man of Japanese cinema," and indeed no other film will cement that point like The City of Lost Souls.
Reid V

I can't help but feel like Miike was just fucking with me. And while I probably won't watch it again, it is worth a midnight viewing if you happen to be in the mood for a truly bizarre & blood-soaked experience. Alcohol is recommended.
Justin Y

Like many other Miike films, a story that would turn out like a usual crime thriller actually turns out into a whacky crime thriller. Takashi Miike kind of whacky. You should know what I mean if you've seen other Miike films. The problem is that sometimes Miike's… More
Like many other Miike films, a story that would turn out like a usual crime thriller actually turns out into a whacky crime thriller. Takashi Miike kind of whacky. You should know what I mean if you've seen other Miike films. The problem is that sometimes Miike's creativity is just a little too much. Fortunately this is not one of those times. Sort of.The interesting thing about this film is that it incorporates Brazilian, Japanese, and Chinese, which is a pretty unique combination. Other than the that, the movie never really excels anywhere else, except for the ending. The first half of this film is the usual Miike weirdness. You need to really pay attention cause you will get lost. You won't be totally lost though. You will be able to get the gist of what is going on and by the second half you are up to speed because the second half is fairly easy to follow.As far as the Miike factor is concerned, you have some really cheap looking CG, weird characters, various filming styles, etc. The CG chicken fight is a hoot. Kung fu anyone?This film isn't action packed, as you may believe, but the ending is quite explosive. Fans of the shotgun will be impressed.The acting is OK at best. The lead, Teah, is nothing special and the beautiful Michelle Reis isn't doing much. Underdevelopment of her character hurts. There are also the few over actors, but that is not out of the ordinary.The only people I would recommend this film to are the Takashi Miike fans. The other reason to watch this film is if you want an abnormal crime adventure.
Tsubaki S

Fun action/yakuza entry from Miike, average plot but it has enough fun moments to elevate from it's ordinary elements. From the matrix spoof to the odd but creative small moments that are so common in Miike, i can safely say i was never bored while watching this. The man has the… More
Fun action/yakuza entry from Miike, average plot but it has enough fun moments to elevate from it's ordinary elements. From the matrix spoof to the odd but creative small moments that are so common in Miike, i can safely say i was never bored while watching this. The man has the gift to turn even the most pedestrian and mundane film into a carnival ride. Besides, Michelle Reis appears in so few movies lately that anything with her is like finding oil.
Luke B

There are moments when this film feels like "Natural Born Killers" but it manages to avoid any further comparisons by just being surreal and even a bit childish. This is a lovers on the run film, which is one of my favourites and the imaginative spark that Miike lends is… More
There are moments when this film feels like "Natural Born Killers" but it manages to avoid any further comparisons by just being surreal and even a bit childish. This is a lovers on the run film, which is one of my favourites and the imaginative spark that Miike lends is also refreshing. However it is also quite dull in places, which is a shame. The film can never manage to keep a good pace, going from wacky, fast exciting to serious, slow and emotional. The scenes either fall into realistic or just plain hyperactive, and Miike doesn't manage to combine the two as well as say "Ichi the Killer". The CGI is very poor but something tells me it is supposed to be like that, in the fantastic CGI cockfight sequence I doubt we are meant to take seriously. It is a hilarious scene. I didn't really care for the characters, as most of them are just scum, or at least pretty damn filthy. If you are a fan of Miike, like myself, and just want to watch a fun film, that requires no thinking and a few inspired moments of surreal brilliance then check this out.
Anthony V

If you are used to the sometimes over the top shenanigans, you'll be in for a real treat here. I'd really recommend seeing something like Dead or Alive first, so you'll be at least prepared for things such as the characters leaping out aircraft and walking away and… More
If you are used to the sometimes over the top shenanigans, you'll be in for a real treat here. I'd really recommend seeing something like Dead or Alive first, so you'll be at least prepared for things such as the characters leaping out aircraft and walking away and gunfights where words are spelled in blood. It's all extremely violent with some serious tone mixed with tongue in cheek. It also has some valid statements about Japanese treatment of immigrants and more Miike insights to the Yakuza, but when going in, go in with expectations that one would have seeing David Lynch make a gangster film.
Christopher B

My least favourite Miike film, though I still own it and will watch it again. Miike's just a damned interesting filmmaker.