Deranged, perverse and teeth-gnashingly violent, this is a typical Takashi Miike film, replete with brutal sadism and copious blood spilling. Anjo, the boss of a Yakuza clan, has made off with all the clan's money, and the gang begin a merciless and bloody campaign to track him down, led by sado-masochism addict Kakihara who is suffering withdrawal symptoms from Anjo's incessant cruelty and violence. The main culprit emerges as Ichi, a mysterious psychopath with a dark childhood secret, who works for a retired Yakuza as an unstoppable killing machine. Kakihara is thrilled to have found a sadistic substitute for his departed boss, and is desperate to experience Ichi's ultimate brutality, even if it means death.