Baby Assassins: Nice Days 2024

Teenage assassins Mahiro and Chisato visit the coastal city of Miyazaki for a contract and a vacation when they unexpectedly cross paths with a legendary, bloodthirsty assassin who’s looking to add to his kill count.

Review

For over 20 years now, action director Kensuke Sonomura has been rising up the ranks of both video game and film choreography to create a wholly unique and grounded style of action that incorporates both real-world tactics and flashy fisticuffs. While the average filmgoer in the States likely hasn’t heard of him, they may have actually seen or played some of his work. From games like Devil May Cry 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and even the recent Resident Evil 3 remake to films such as Versus, Resident Evil: Vendetta, and Jigen Daisuke, the man has carved out a niche that has quickly taken over modern choreography. The likes of John Wick, for instance, owe a lot to Sonomura’s style.

Over in Japan, Sonomura recently started directing films of his own. Both Hydra and Bad City put his style front and center and can sometimes feel like demo reels for his particular brand of on-screen brawling. Then you have his collaborative efforts with director Yugo Sakamoto, namely the hugely popular Baby Assassins films. Featuring two perfectly cast leads in the form of Akari Takaishi and Saori Izawa, these movies take a ridiculous concept, mix it with slice-of-life anime comedy, and top it off with Sonomura’s intricate and flashy action to create a triple-layer cake of cinematic goodness.