Dead or Alive

Set in the neon-bathed streets of Shinjuku, Dead or Alive follows Ryuuichi and his tight-knit Triad crew as they muscle their way through Tokyo's criminal underworld. They push for dominance in a city where backroom deals, betrayals, and when money flows, violence follows. On the other side stands Detective Jojima, a stubborn cop who dogs the gang's moves and aims to dismantle their operations from within the system. The film threads together their competing ambitions with relentless energy, a tough, streetwise mood, and Miike's signature kinetic pacing. As alliances shift and loyalties fracture, the line between law and crime becomes eerily blurred, making every encounter feel dangerous and immediate. The mood stays tense, as trust proves precious and fleeting here.

Directed by Takashi Miike, Dead or Alive was inspired by Toshiki Kimura's screenplay. The fast and brutal crime drama arrives amid Miike's early wave of low-budget, boundary-pushing violence, released in 1999. The production favors quick takes and a handheld grit.

Among Takashi Miike's early crime thrillers, this entry is remembered for its no-holds-barred energy and stark urban atmosphere. It helped cement Miike's reputation for pushing boundaries with tiny budgets and a raw, pop-noir sensibility that influenced later crime and neon-noir films. Fans cite its brisk pacing and unflinching grit today.

Reviews emphasize the film's brutal pace and blunt look at power, loyalty, and betrayal in a criminal underworld. The story examines how ambition corrodes trust and turns both cops and gangsters into casualties of a system that feeds on itself, all delivered with Miike's climactic energy for better or worse.

Box office data for Dead or Alive is not widely reported, reflecting its underground release and tiny budget. The film circulated mainly on home video and festival circuits, achieving cult status rather than blockbuster numbers and continues to captivate collectors.