In Japanese films, a lot of what used to be considered extreme is now routine. Geysers of blood and flying body parts may still thrill fanboys, but to me that sort of play violence has become about as exciting as the spin cycle.
Hideo Sakaki's buddy movie "Alley Cat" also deals in violence, but of the kind that has real consequences on actual bodies and psyches. The ex-boxer hero (Yosuke Kubozuka) does not bounce up from brutal punishment, ready for more. Instead he suffers from headaches that nearly kill him — and maybe someday will.
Actor and director Sakaki has had his share of hard knocks as well, including the near-cancellation of his 2010 comedy "The Accidental Kidnapper" when a cast member was arrested for drugs. (Sakaki saved the day by reshooting the busted actor's scenes with himself in the role.) All that and more is reflected in "Alley Cat," whose desperate characters look worn down by life, if not yet defeated by it.