Branded to Kill (1967)

Branded to Kill (1967)

Author: Film Trace October 3, 2022 Duration: 1:03:59

The sixth and final film in our Absurdist Action cycle is Seijun Suzuki's masterpiece, Branded to Kill (1967)

When we decided to do Absurdist Action as the theme of this cycle, we both struggled to find a starting point. Over-the-top action movies were the lingua franca of 1980s American cinema, and we had dozens of Reagan-era films to choose from as an origin. But as we tried to trace the theme back further, things became quite murky: Kung Fu, James Bond, Micheal Cimino, heist movies, cop movies, military shoot 'em ups. Chris wisely choose this yakuza B movie as our starting point, and it rings incredibly true to the theme.

The undercurrent that connects Bullet Train to Bad Boys to 48 Hrs can be seen clearly in Seijun Suzuki's surrealist gonzo hitman film. Branded to Kill was shot in 25 days and edited in the three days before it was released. It was a factory film. The studio hated it and fired Suzuki. It was mostly unseen outside of Japan until the late 1990s when it was released on home video. Branded To Kill is a fever dream that runs solely on poetic logic. It is definitely absurd, and intoxicatingly provocative. Explicit sex, epic violence, and free verse plotting make this the missing link of Absurdist Action films.

For our chaser film, we beat back the current of modern cinema to explore Beat the Devil (1953), a lark from John Huston and Truman Capote that became kitsch for the coastal elite set.


Ever find yourself falling down an internet rabbit hole after the credits roll, clicking from a film’s trivia page to the director’s biography and then to some obscure piece of production history? That’s the exact feeling Film Trace aims to capture and expand upon in audio form. This isn't just another review show. Instead, each episode is a deep, meticulously researched excavation of a single movie’s entire journey. We start with the initial spark of an idea-the script found in a drawer, the chance meeting that got it greenlit-and follow every twist and turn through casting, chaotic production, and post-production. The story continues to the film’s release, its critical and cultural reception, and what legacy it holds now. Think of it as a comprehensive, narrative-driven biography of a film, built on primary sources and genuine curiosity. The hosts at Film Trace use their collective nerd superpowers to do all that obsessive digging for you, weaving together context, history, and behind-the-scenes details into a compelling story about how art gets made. You’ll come away from each installment of this podcast not just with an opinion on a movie, but with a real understanding of its place in the wider world of TV and film. It’s for anyone who believes the story off-screen is just as fascinating as the one projected on it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 131

Film Trace
Podcast Episodes
The Rise of A24 - Spring Breakers (2013) and Kids (1995) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:22
The season finale of our Rise of A24 series starts at the beginning, Harmony Korine's neon maximalist Spring Breakers (2013) as well as his first big break as the writer of Kids (1995).Problematic doesn't begin to descri…
The Rise of A24 - Enemy (2014) and The Tenant (1976) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:30
The penultimate episode in our Rise of A24 season features two psychological free falls, Denis Villeneuve's Enemy (2014) and the infamous Roman Polanski's The Tenant (1976)Special Guest: Hollywood Insider and great frien…
The Rise of A24 - Green Room (2016) and Straw Dogs (1971) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:04
In our seventh episode of The Rise of A24 series, we revisit the pitch black thriller Green Room (2016) and its even even darker precedent Straw Dogs (1971).Special Guests: David, comedian and musician from Chicago, chec…
The Rise of A24 - It Comes at Night (2017) and The Crazies (1973) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:15
In our sixth episode of The Rise of A24 series, we plunge into the cold dark heart of humanity with It Comes at Night (2017) and The Crazies (1973)Special Guests: Bridget D. Brave, horror writer and horror film aficionad…
The Rise of A24 - First Reformed (2018) and Ordet (1955) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:26
In our fifth episode of The Rise of A24 series, we go to church with Paul Schrader’s First Reformed (2018) and Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Ordet (1955).Special Guests: Jen and Sarah of the great podcasts - Movies & Us and TV &…
Under the Silver Lake (2019) and L'Avventura (1960) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:32
In our fourth episode of The Rise of A24 series, we are covering the newly minted cult classic Under the Silver Lake (2019) and the art cinema bonanza of L'Avventura (1960)Special Guest - James Adamson, the host of the g…
After Yang (2022) and Late Spring (1949) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:28
In our third episode of The Rise of A24 series, we are covering Kogonada's quiet meditation on familial AI, After Yang (2022) alongside the wondrous Late Spring (1949) by Yasujiro Ozu. Special Guest - Lillian Crawford is…
The Rise of A24 - Talk to Me (2023) and Possession (1981) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:07
In our second episode of The Rise of A24 series, we are covering the gonzo horror of the Philippou brothers in Talk to Me (2023) and the roots of elevated horror in Andrzej Żuławski's Possession (1981)Special Guest - Ret…
The Rise of A24 - Sorry, Baby (2025) and Eddington (2025) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:17
We are back with a new season of Film Trace. In this season, we will survey the short but illustrious history of film studio upstart A24. We will analyze how they have made such a massive impact on filmmaking in such a s…