Takashi Miike's Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo Misses the Mark at TIFF 2026

The latest entry in the loosely connected Bad Lieutenant franchise made its debut at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. With visionary director Takashi Miike taking the helm, fans expected something bold and gritty. Instead, the film presents a surprisingly generic detective story that feels disconnected from the intense energy typical of both the franchise and its director.

The story follows Yabuki, played by Shun Oguri, a struggling detective battling gambling debts and a personal downward spiral. He finds himself caught in a complex case involving a former Yakuza colleague and an FBI agent played by Lily James. While the film starts with visual flair and promising character moments, it soon gets bogged down by a repetitive mystery and a lack of the visceral impact audiences usually expect from Miike.

Critiques point to a clash in tone and performances that keep the film from reaching its potential. While Oguri delivers a strong performance, the chemistry between the leads often feels forced. Even with flashes of Miike's unique visual style, the film ultimately plays it too safe, failing to capture the raw, chaotic spirit that defined previous installments in the series.

Fans looking for the wild, pulpy excitement of earlier Bad Lieutenant films or the signature intensity of Miike may be disappointed. The movie ends up feeling more like a standard thriller than a standout entry in a storied franchise. It remains to be seen how general audiences will react when the film moves beyond the festival circuit.