Kanna Hashimoto
Kei Kikuno
Overview
Kei Kikuno attends a vocational school as a student. For her part-time job, she works as a contract killer. She is excellent at her job and never gets scared by anyone. One day, she receives the most challenging request.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Assassin’s Day Job
I didn’t expect to laugh during an assassination. Not the kind of laugh that comes from relief or irony, but the kind that catches you off guard, the way a well-timed joke does in a movie you assumed was all about brooding and bloodshed. The Violence Action opens with Kei Kikuno (Kanna Hashimoto) dispatching a target in a cramped apartment, her movements precise, her expression blank.
The camera lingers on the aftermath—the body slumping, the blood pooling—then cuts to her at her day job, a vocational school where she’s just another student in a plaid skirt, nodding along to a lecture on accounting. The dissonance is jarring, and then, somehow, darkly funny. It’s the kind of tonal whiplash that makes you wonder if the film knows what it wants to be.
By the end, I’m still not sure it does. But I’m also not sure that matters.
Toichiro Ruto’s film is a genre hybrid in the most literal sense: it wants to be an action movie, a crime drama, and a coming-of-age story all at once, and it never quite commits to any of them. That’s not necessarily a flaw—some of the best films thrive in the in-between spaces—but The Violence Action struggles to find its footing when it veers from one mode to another. The action sequences are competently staged, if not particularly inventive, with Kei’s fights feeling more like a series of choreographed beats than a fluid, visceral experience.
There’s a moment early on where she takes down a group of yakuza in a parking garage, and while the punches land with a satisfying thud, the scene lacks the kinetic energy of, say, a John Wick or even a Kill Bill. It’s functional, but not electrifying. (Then again, maybe that’s the point: Kei isn’t a superhuman assassin.
Audience Opinions
Audience 3.9/10
"A messy, over-the-top action flick with flashes of style but little substance to back it up."
Viewers appreciate the film's high-energy action sequences and the lead performance by Kanna Hashimoto, which add a layer of charisma to the chaotic proceedings. However, the story is widely criticized as incoherent and nonsensical, with underdeveloped characters and a tone that struggles to balance violence with humor, latestnetflix.com argues, leaving many feeling unsatisfied despite its visual flair.
What viewers praise
- Energetic action scenes The fight sequences and stunt work are frequently highlighted as the film's strongest point, delivering adrenaline-pumping moments.
- Kanna Hashimoto's performance Hashimoto's lead role is praised for bringing energy and presence to the film, making her character a standout despite the script's flaws.
- Stylish visuals The film's aesthetic and cinematography are noted for their bold, dynamic style, which adds a layer of appeal to the action.
Common complaints
- Incoherent plot The story is widely described as confusing, nonsensical, and poorly structured, making it difficult to follow or invest in.
- Underdeveloped characters Supporting characters feel shallow and forgettable, with little depth or meaningful arcs to engage the audience.
- Tonal inconsistency The film's attempt to blend violence with humor often falls flat, creating an uneven and jarring viewing experience.
- Weak script Dialogue and pacing are criticized as clunky and uninspired, detracting from the film's overall impact.
Recommended for
Fans of over-the-top action Kanna Hashimoto admirers Japanese action cinema enthusiasts Those seeking stylish but mindless entertainment
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsKanna Hashimoto’s High-Octane Gamble: The Wild Ride Behind The Violence Action
The Violence Action (2022) arrived on Netflix as a chaotic, manga-inspired romp, but behind its over-the-top fight scenes and dark humor lies a project that divided fans and critics alike. Directed by Toichiro Ruto, the film stars Kanna Hashimoto as Kana, a young woman who unleashes brutal vengeance after her childhood friend is attacked by a yakuza gang. With a runtime of 120 minutes and a genre blend of action and drama, latestnetflix.com argues, the movie promised a fresh take on Japan’s action-comedy tradition—but did it deliver?
A Star-Studded Cast, But Mixed Reception
Hashimoto, best known for her roles in Kingdom (2019) and Alice in Borderland (2020), took on her first leading action role in The Violence Action, and the pressure was palpable. The film’s supporting cast—including Yosuke Sugino (Tokyo Revengers) and Oji Suzuka (Rurouni Kenshin)—brought star power, but early reviews suggested the execution didn’t match the hype. On SensCritique, the movie holds a modest 3.9/10 rating from 63 votes, with critics calling it uneven 
. Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, lists the cast but offers no aggregated score, leaving its critical standing ambiguous .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzM0GUSkN2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPKReMLuxUI
The divide is clear: some viewers praised the film’s energy and Hashimoto’s physicality, while others found the tone jarring—oscillating between slapstick comedy and brutal violence. A YouTube review described it as "Netflix’s latest Japanese action smash," but stopped short of calling it a must-watch . Another clip, titled "HARUS LIAT! Aksi Kana Hashimoto Bantai 1 Geng Preman" ("Must Watch! Kana Hashimoto vs. a Gang of Thugs"), highlights the film’s fight choreography as its biggest selling point .
Manga Roots and Netflix’s Gamble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ons-j2uJh7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCH4FhBKWY4
The Violence Action is based on a manga, a detail teased in early marketing. The first teaser, released in 2022, framed it as a "Japanese action comedy manga-inspired film," suggesting a deliberate nod to the source material’s exaggerated style . Netflix’s involvement likely amplified its reach, but the platform’s algorithm-driven promotion may have set unrealistic expectations. A trailer reaction video called it a "wild ride," but noted the tonal whiplash between comedy and violence .
The film’s production was relatively low-key, with no major behind-the-scenes drama reported in the available snippets. However, the lack of buzz around its release—compared to Hashimoto’s other projects—raises questions about its long-term impact. Was it a passion project for Ruto, or a calculated attempt to cash in on Japan’s booming action-comedy trend?
The Verdict: Style Over Substance?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PotCVwG7KCc
For fans of high-energy, unapologetically violent cinema, The Violence Action delivers. Clips of Hashimoto’s fight scenes have circulated widely, proving the film’s visual appeal . Yet, the lukewarm critical response suggests it may not have struck the right balance between its action and comedy elements. A Netflix review video sums it up: "It’s fun, but it’s not great" .
With no sequels or spin-offs announced, The Violence Action stands as a standalone experiment—one that either thrills or frustrates, depending on the viewer’s tolerance for chaos.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.