Broken Rage: Everything we know about Prime Video's latest action comedy 

Broke Rage is Prime Video's new action comedy film with an innovative storytelling method that tries to balance gripping crime drama with slapstick humor. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, the movie also stars Kitano in the titular role. Famous for pairing violence with sarcasm, Kitano experiments for a change by telling the same tale in two disparate ways, first as a high-octane crime drama and later as a screwball comedy.

Premiering out of competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, Broken Rage has already been making waves with its offbeat plot and Kitano's trademark style. A benchmark for Japanese cinema, Broken Rage is Japan's first streaming production to be selected at Venice. Its two-genre structure makes the movie depart from traditional narratives in a manner that is guaranteed to engage global audiences.

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Release date and streaming information

Broken Rage was first released globally in September 2024 at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The film was screened as a feature out of competition, a first for Kitano and Japanese streaming movies. After its festival circuit run, "Broken Rage" hit international screens on February 13, 2025, via Amazon Prime Video.

Its streaming release provides global viewers with a chance to appreciate Kitano's unorthodox storytelling style, which is valued by action-thriller fans and offbeat comedy fans alike.

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Plot and innovative storytelling style of Broken Rage

Broken Rage is the tale of veteran hitman Nezumi, who is arrested and coerced by the police into being an informant. It plays out over the first half of the film, framed as a suspense crime thriller, tracking Nezumi's struggle as he tries to make it through the violent criminal world and police units. The dark, serious tone of the story is dedicated to survival, deception, and loyalty.

At the end of the film, Kitano re-tells the very same story under the guise of slapstick humor. The dramatic scenes are retold in farcical physical comedy, rendering Nezumi as a bumbling, accident-prone individual. This dual-storytelling is meant to push the thin line between violence and comedy; hence, Broken Rage is an innovative experiment in filmmaking.

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Cast and characters of the show

The ensemble cast is headed by Takeshi Kitano himself as Nezumi. Along with him, some highly acclaimed actors infuse life into the story:

Tadanobu Asano, as a lead detective, who is hell-bent on pushing Nezumi into law enforcement service.

Nao Omori, another detective who is part of the operation.

Shidō Nakamura, a strong yakuza leader, ruling over the underworld.

Hakury, a younger gang leader with his ambitions.

Shinya Kiyozuka adds to the mood of the film with his unique musical score.

Every actor has a central role in the two versions of the story, adapting their performances to accommodate the differing tones of the thriller and comedic portions of the film.

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Reception and critical response

On its premiere, Broken Rage received mixed reviews from critics. Few have lauded Kitano's risk-taking in the genre, praising the masterful filmmaking of the picture and the sheer artistic risk that was undertaken. The clash between comedy and thriller has been seen as a new frontier for crime fiction and as marking Kitano as a director who will not shy away from taking a risk.

Nevertheless, other critics have found the portrayal uneven, the transition from dark crime drama to broad slapstick humor jarring sometimes. Some of the film's comedy fans appreciate the second half, while others decry it for undermining the gravity built up in the first half.

With the polarized sensitivities, Broken Rage is a title that grates oddly against Kitano's body of work, offering audiences an unusual viewing experience that breaks the rules of narrative.

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Broke Rage is a testament to Takeshi Kitano's continued supremacy of the screen, meshing crime, action, and comedy in a way that few dare to try. The two formats of the film make it a strong and unconventional piece of work that makes people think twice about violence and comedy and how they are connected.

For those who like experimental narrative and genre-bending, Broken Rage is a movie worth watching. Streaming now on Prime Video, fans can judge for themselves whether or not Kitano's latest is a work of genius or a high-risk endeavor that doesn't quite pay off.