THE OUTSIDER sees Netflix explore the darker side of Japan as it tells the story of a gaijin, or westerner, who finds himself enveloped in Yakuza society after helping a prominent gangster. Jared Leto plays the main role rather impassively and I couldn't help but wish for someone with a little more character to essay the part, but never mind. Generally this is serious, slow-burning viewing; the plotting as it plays out turns to be entirely predictable, and it suffers at times from having characters making ridiculous decisions for the sake of the story (such as a veteran crime boss walking nonchalantly into an ambush without a second thought). However, the cinematography is strong and the film looks good, even if the characters turn out to be wafer-thin, and it doesn't shy away from the violence either. Small fry when compared to personal favourites (like Beat Takeshi's OUTRAGE), but this still passes the time amiably enough.
Review of The Outsider
