The Specials

Official Selection, 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival

1. Kill Honjo.
2. No betrayal.
3. Attend dance practice.
4. Keep confidential.

When a gig to kill a yakuza boss requires a dance competition, an unlikely group of hitmen must work together, battle a K-pop cover group, and learn how to dance from a 10-year-old orphan. Fight (and dance) choreographies are aplenty in this playful parody of yakuza films. Apathetic assassins experience tearful dance trauma and renowned crooked uncles still bop to oldies city pop.

An intergenerational banger, THE SPECIALS not only highlights the evolution of dance in Japan but also budding friendships among the different generation of characters, done expertly by bad guy acting regulars Shiina Kippei, Ozawa Hitoshi, and Ishibashi Renji, running parallel with contemporary idols Sakuma Daisuke of Snow Man and Nakamoto Yuta of NCT 127.

Between an impressive ramen dance routine and an elementary school principal held at gunpoint, this yakuza dance flick will have viewers playing Iyo Matsumoto’s “Sentimental Journey” on repeat and be reminded of what’s important in life: passion, joy, and heart.

– Alissa Tu