Wild Life (1997)
Shinji Aoyama’s gritty Japanese thriller drops an ex-boxer into a treacherous web of yakuza rivalries, blackmail, and survival.
Wild Life - Movie Information
- Original Title: WiLd LIFe
- Release Year: 1997
- Directed by: Shinji Aoyama
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 5, 1997 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: ワイルドライフ (JP)
- Production Companies: Taki Corporation, Video Champ
- Production Countries: Japan
Wild Life - Plot
An ex-boxer working for a game parlor owner gets caught up in a complex blackmail operation he doesn’t understand. Before long he’s caught between two yakuza bosses and a mysterious thief who motivation is unknown. Add in the boss’ daughter who has a crush on him and watch him struggle to make sense of it all and come out alive.
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Wild Life - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Shinji Aoyama
Main Cast
- Kosuke Toyohara
- Mickey Curtis
- Yūna Natsuo
- Jun Kunimura
- Ken Mitsuishi
- Yoichiro Saito
- Kenichi Yajima
- Akiko Izumi
- Eiko Nagashima
- Tarō Suwa
Writers
- Shinji Aoyama
- Hiroyuki Kurokawa
Wild Life - FAQs
What is Wild Life (1997) about?
Wild Life follows an ex-boxer employed by a game parlor owner who becomes entangled in a blackmail scheme he barely understands. Caught between two rival yakuza bosses and a mysterious thief with unknown motives, he must navigate deadly underworld politics while also dealing with his boss’s daughter, who has feelings for him.
Who directed Wild Life (1997)?
Wild Life was directed by Shinji Aoyama, a Japanese filmmaker who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Hiroyuki Kurokawa. Aoyama would go on to become one of Japan’s most critically respected directors, later earning international recognition for films such as Eureka (2000).
Who are the main actors in Wild Life?
The film stars Kosuke Toyohara as ex-boxer Hiroki Sakai and Mickey Curtis as game parlor owner Kenzo Tsumura. The supporting cast includes Yūna Natsuo as Rie, Jun Kunimura as Ijima, Ken Mitsuishi, Yoichiro Saito, Kenichi Yajima, Akiko Izumi, Eiko Nagashima, and Tarō Suwa.
When was Wild Life released?
Wild Life was released in Japan on April 5, 1997. The film was produced by Taki Corporation and Video Champ and represents one of Shinji Aoyama’s early directorial works before he achieved broader international recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Where can I watch Wild Life (1997)?
Streaming availability for Wild Life (1997) varies by region. As a niche Japanese genre film from the late 1990s, it may have limited digital distribution. You can check current streaming options, rental platforms, and physical media availability for your region via JustWatch.
What genre is Wild Life (1997)?
Wild Life is classified as a Drama and Thriller. It blends the gritty atmosphere of Japanese yakuza crime cinema with character-driven dramatic tension, following an ordinary man pulled into the violent and unpredictable world of organized crime and blackmail in 1990s Japan.
How long is Wild Life (1997)?
Wild Life has a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes (102 minutes). The film was directed by Shinji Aoyama and produced in Japan. It is spoken entirely in Japanese and was released theatrically in Japan on April 5, 1997.
Is Wild Life (1997) connected to the 2018 film Wildlife?
No, Wild Life (1997) is an entirely separate Japanese yakuza thriller directed by Shinji Aoyama and has no connection to Wildlife (2018), the American drama directed by Paul Dano based on Richard Ford’s novel. The two films share a similar title but differ completely in origin, story, and genre.
More About Wild Life
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