mad cats

Streaming Sleepers: Reiki Tsuno’s MAD CATS Claws Its Way To Prime, Tubi, And More In The U.S.

Mad Cats was originally reviewed for the 29th edition of the Slamdance Film Festival. The movie was released on All-Region Blu-Ray in the UK from Third Window Films, and originally as a streaming exclusive on Midnight Pulp. If you regularly take in Asian movies, then you can certainly understand director Reiki Tsuno’s logic and motivation of late. Citing a need for Japanese filmgoing audiences to enjoy “fun movies that make you feel happy,” it comes as no surprise that he would create a film that centers its narrative on one of the most enigmatic yet culturally beloved domestic mammals, particularly in Japan. What’s impressive, of course, is the degree to which Tsuno pulls this feat off in his feature directorial debut, Mad Cats, which screens for Slamdance this weekend. Prefacing our story is an opening sequence host to an eerie hilltop with five women in white gowns, standing several feet apart […]

MAD CATS: Catch The Official Trailer For The Hit Action Comedy Coming To Midnight Pulp!

Lee B. Golden III

There’s something to be said about actress and action specialist Ayane’s debut in Reiki Tsuno’s Mad Cats. The arrival this year of the hard-hitting lo-fi deadpan action comedy comes at a pretty auspicious time with niche audiences gracing Japanese action cinema with such a spotlight; It’s the kind that’s been cast for the likes of Yuji Shimomura (Death Trance, Re:Born), Yugo Sakamoto (Baby Assassins, A Janitor) and Kensuke Sonomura (Hydra, Bad City) of late, and that puts our lead star at the forefront of a momentous moment in her nascent career that has already taken off, working on a several projects including music videos, stunts on hit Netflix series “One Piece”, and even appearing in Karate Kill actor Hayate’s independent feature directing debut, The First Mission. Tsuno’s Mad Cats now marks not only Ayane’s debut lead role – the first she auditioned for after getting into film – it also […]

Reiki Tsuno’s MAD CATS Is Coming To Midnight Pulp In Late 2023!

Lee B. Golden III

I’ve been living under a rock of immense work and with very little help, so I completely missed the announcement just over a month ago when Reiki Tsuno’s action comedy, Mad Cats, was acquired by Cineverse to begin streaming exclusively on Midnight Pulp in late 2023. Indeed, that’s the case and so finally folks who’ve been following action actress Ayane on social media and are keen on seeing her breakout role may finally be able to do so. The film had its initial premiere at Slamdance earlier this year and I was one of the fortunate ones to receive a virtual invite to screen and review it. Suffice it to say, I was a happy film critic. Tsuno makes his debut on Mad Cats casting Ayane alongside Sho Mineo, Yuya Matsura and So Yamanaka for the story of an aimless mobile home park dweller who receives a message about the […]

MAD CATS Sets Japan Release With New Poster And Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

The newest official poster and trailer assets are out for Mad Cats, the latest from writer/director Reiki Tsuno and starring Sho Mineo and debut actress and rising action talent, Ayane. The film is currently making the international festival rounds following its world premiere at Slamdance earlier this year and is poised for a Japan release in September. Mineo stars as Taka, a shiftless young man with no job and living in a trailer park. After receiving a mysterious package alerting him of the likely location of his long missing brother, Mune, Taka sets off on a quest to that finds him taking on a pack of vengeful humanoid monster cats with the help of a homeless man haphazardly swept into the affray, and an edgy, mysterious young girl with the arsenal of a small army, and martial arts skills to match. Yuya Matsuura and So Yamanaka also star. The film […]

MAD CATS: Paws (Get It?) And Check Out The Brand New Poster For Reiki Tsuno’s Hit Feature Debut!

Lee B. Golden III

International sales agent Third Window Films has affirmed its next steps forward with Reiki Tsuno’s fantastically entertaining action comedy adventure thriller, Mad Cats. The film is currently poised to screen for the White Raven Competition of the 41st BIFFF in Brussels next month. Further festival dates and commercial release announcements remain pending as well, and those updates can’t come soon enough. Mad Cats made its world premiere at Slamdance back in January, featuring Sho Mineo and Yuya Matsuura, and introducing actress and burgeoning action star hopeful, Ayane in the first role she auditioned for after jumping into the world of performing arts. Tsuno directs from his script which sees Mineo as a shiftless, jobless trailer park dweller who instantly sets out on a mission to find his missing brother after receiving a mysterious package. The journey soon lands him in the throes of a vengeful family of female monster cats […]

Slamdance 2023 Review: Reiki Tsuno’s MAD CATS, An Endearing Road Adventure That Hails The Arrival Of A New Martial Arts Action Star

Lee B. Golden III

If you regularly take in Asian movies, then you can certainly understand director Reiki Tsuno’s logic and motivation of late. Citing a need for Japanese filmgoing audiences to enjoy “fun movies that make you feel happy,” it comes as no surprise that he would create a film that centers its narrative on one of the most enigmatic yet culturally beloved domestic mammals, particularly in Japan. What’s impressive, of course, is the degree to which Tsuno pulls this feat off in his feature directorial debut, Mad Cats, which screens for Slamdance this weekend. Prefacing our story is an opening sequence host to an eerie hilltop with five women in white gowns, standing several feet apart from one another as they stare off into the windy distance. That shot is soon followed by a woman creeping down a dark flight of steps with an ax in hand, just before using it to […]

New MAD CATS Official Promo Teaser Lunges At You Ahead Of Next Weekend’s Slamdance Premiere!

Lee B. Golden III

“I had wondered why Japanese movies are so sad, serious, and depressing most of the time. I came to think that it’s the budget. Budgets for indie movies in Japan are actually much smaller than ones in overseas. It is very difficult to make something exciting and flashy because they simply cost a lot. I wanted to change that…” It matters that Crying Bitch shortfilm helmer Reiki Tsuno feels this way as we head into a new year with his independent feature debut, Mad Cats. Fairing all the same is that Japanese cinematic action has become a little more commercially prolific in the past year – enough for the likes of Tsuno to get to ride the momentum with the good folks at this year’s upcoming Slamdance Film Festival also taking notice. Indeed, Tsuno’s humbly-produced and driven crowdfunded effort is now looking to gain traction with an official teaser to […]

MAD CATS Teaser: Monster Cats Rage Against Humanity In Reiki Tsuno’s Independent Feature Debut

Lee B. Golden III

The past few years have been electric for director Reiki Tsuno and producer Daisuke Urano. After successfully gaining some momentum in the horror arena with ALTER’s online release of Tsuno’s 2020 short, Crying B*tch, his efforts soon turned to rev up his feature debut with action horror comedy, Mad Cats, starring Sho Mineo, Yuya Matsuura, So Yamanaka, and action actress Ayane, and featuring action sequences by the famous Japan Action Club. Taka, a shiftless young man, sets off on a quest to find his brother Mune. Teaming up with a quirky new friend and an edgy, mysterious young girl along the way, Taka finds himself taking on a pack of vicious monster cats determined to execute unscrupulous pet shop owners. The project has since wrapped principal photography as of July 2021, and segued into post-production back in April thanks to crowdfunding support via Campfire, with Tsuno releasing a ten-minute preview […]