Classic Japanese Thrillers Make Their ARROW Debut This February

ARROW continues its commitment to cult cinema with an exceptional February slate, led by two meticulously crafted Japanese crime thrillers, A Certain Killer and A Killer’s Key. Streaming exclusively from February 10, these films mark a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the work of director Kazuo Mori, best known for Zatoichi at Large and a celebrated master of jidai-geki.

Both films feature Raiz? Ichikawa, a legendary figure in Japanese cinema, known for his work in Shinobi: Band of Assassins and the Sleepy Eyes of Death series. A Certain Killer follows a quiet sushi chef who moonlights as an assassin, eliminating targets with poison-tipped needles. When his latest contract entangles him in a yakuza turf war, his carefully managed existence begins to unravel. Meanwhile, A Killer’s Key sees Ichikawa return as a lone wolf assassin posing as a dance instructor, drawn into a high-stakes cover-up that threatens to collapse a major crime syndicate.

With cinematography by Kazuo Miyagawa, whose credits include Rashomon and Ugetsu, and a screenplay co-written by Yasuz? Masumura (Blind Beast), these films offer a unique blend of film noir aesthetics and intense action sequences. They share thematic DNA with Seijun Suzuki’s Branded to Kill and A Colt is My Passport, but Mori’s direction infuses them with a restrained tension, ensuring they stand out within the genre.

Beyond these classics, ARROW’s February line-up includes an eclectic mix of horror, psychological thrillers, and sci-fi oddities. Horror fans can revisit Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation, a slow-burn thriller about a dinner party gone horribly wrong. February 7 sees the exclusive premiere of Killer Graduation, a high school slasher that blends Happy Death Day with Heathers, injecting dark humour and a queer perspective into the teen horror subgenre.

The streaming service also adds Hobgoblins and its sequel, along with cult oddities such as Ice Cream Man, a gruesome slasher featuring Clint Howard as a deranged dessert vendor. For fans of the avant-garde, Caverna offers a surreal psychological journey set within an experimental Italian theatre workshop. Meanwhile, Putney Swope, a biting 1969 satire by Robert Downey Sr., presents a sharp critique of race and advertising, remaining as relevant as ever.

ARROW is also expanding its reach, now available on Xbox alongside existing platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android devices. Subscriptions start at £4.99 monthly or £49.99 annually, with a free 30-day trial available for new subscribers.

With a mix of classics, cult gems, and fresh indie releases, February’s selection on ARROW proves why the platform remains an essential destination for lovers of genre cinema. For more information, visit: arrow-player.com/