Action Addicts Network

Plot synopsis: In 1924, ex-spy Yuri, a former assassin, and an orphan possessing intel about missing imperial Japanese army funds are pursued by soldiers as they seek the money while trying to survive.

Revolver Lily doesn’t ease you in, it loads the chamber, flicks the safety off, and dares you to look away. This is a hard-edged period action thriller that blends old-school pulp with modern attitude, wrapped in immaculate Taishō-era style. Directed by Isao Yukisada, the film adapts Kyo Nagaura’s novel into a sprawling story of betrayal, conspiracies, and a retired killer pulled back into a life of bullets and bloodshed. It smartly uses its era (between world conflict and rising militarism) as both backdrop and character, blending noir sensibilities with visceral action.

At the centre of the film is Haruka Ayase as Yuriko “LILY” Ozone, once one of Japan’s deadliest assassins with an astonishing 57 confirmed kills, now trying, and failing, to bury that life beneath the surface of a quieter existence. Ayase brings a cool ferocity to LILY, showing both her lethal edge and the emotional cost of her past. It’s a commanding performance that anchors the film’s more ambitious thematic aims: personal autonomy in the face of exploitation, and the heavy price of violence.

Supporting Ayase is an excellent ensemble, including Hiroki Hasegawa and Jinsei Hamura, whose roles add depth and momentum to the story. Kavka Shishido as Naka and Kotone Furukawa as Kotoko stand out among the supporting cast, pulling off complex, morally shaded roles that elevate the emotional stakes. The film’s antagonist forces from ruthless military pursuers to shadowy conspirators, are portrayed by a rich roster of seasoned talent, including Renji Ishibashi, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, and Sadawo Abe.

Hiroki Hasegawa’s plays a former naval officer turned Lawyer Yoshiaki Iwami. Iwami ended up being one of my favourite characters. Which given he is surrounded by two badass ex assassin ladies, gangsters, the Japanese army and other agents he does, on paper, seem rather outmatched. You would be mistaken. Not only is does charm and confidence ooze out of him at every moment but his cool exterior is backed up by experience and skill. This is essentially the ‘fixer’ of the town and he knows everyone, almost all of whom owe him a favour or two. He knows the laws and the codes, does not back away from a fight and is actually useful when the bullets start flying. I could easily see this guy headlining a spinoff if they so desired.

The action in this does take a moment to get going and I find it difficult to categorise, while the majority of sequences emphasise gunplay over flashy fisticuffs. There are a few great moments where the guns go away and Haruka gets to show off her skills as Yuriko. The action is incredibly hard hitting, while some of the trailers may have you believe this is a John Wick style shooting gallery I’d say the majority of kills are treated and depicted with more reverence. Nearly every fight could be Yuriko’s last and she is keenly aware of that. There is a great sequence where she ambushes a group of soldiers threatening a child and it is not shot to be stylish or fashionable. Instead showing the tension and strategy needed to take out a superior force, she hits hard and fast with no room for error and no chance of retaliation. There is one huge shootout midway through the film where we get to see the lethal ladies truly unleash but even that has moments where both the characters and the audience accept that one lucky shot could end this very quickly. They are significantly better trained than the average riflemen and are veteran killers compared to the mostly inexperienced young men ordered to fight them.

There is an outlier however and that is another agent trained by the same people who instructed Yuriko and Naka. Minamishi played by Hiroya Shimizu is a perfect foil for Yuriko as he not only matches her beat for beat but also shows from the moment he is introduced that he might just be better than her. Defeating her in several key sequences during the film, Minamishi is a ghost that stalks his prey from the shadows. Getting inside her head and under her skin, ensuring the battle is not just physical but psychological as well.

The overall story of Revolver Lily might not be groundbreaking, a weary battle-hardened warrior protecting a child from a corrupt malevolent force but trust me when I say it’s all in the execution. A personal story for Yuriko collides headfirst into Hamura Jinsei’s character Shinta Hosomi. Shinta might seem like a helpless kid but there’s more to him than meets the eye, learning his true heritage has some rather painful revelations for Yuriko and I congratulate the plot for not being anywhere near as obvious in this regard as I first believed.

That said while I did have a good time with the story I do think the plot suffers from an overload of characters. Naka and Iwami both get great moments but they both suffer from moments where they simply disappear with no discernible reason other than if they were around, it would be to easy. Naka especially feels underutilised as her skillset and experience matches closely with Yuriko and while Iwami being removed from the board routinely is explained, Naka gets none of that. Instead both Naka and Kotoko show up at the 11^th hour acting as the cavalry but don’t appear to alter the outcome much.

Overall though this movie has some fantastic shootouts, a great mystery to move the plot forward and just enough emotional drama that by the end of it you feel like all the main players who survive really have grown. The 1920s setting offers great visual variety that feels fresh for a Japanese setting and the Taishō-era pre-war backdrop allows for some poignant and sadly still relevant social commentary.

All in all I think this is one action addicts shouldn’t miss. Revolver Lily will be available on Digital from January 27th from Well Go USA Entertainment and on physical February 10th.