Violent Cop is, as the title implies, an uncompromising, gritty picture, that despite it’s relatively “recent” status, draws more from 70’s genre pictures like Dirty Harry and Death Wish than the cop/action flicks of the 80’s. This is not a fun, action-filled romp; it’s filled with surprisingly dark material and unflinching violence that is more likely to disturb than entertain (…). And as [Takeshi Kitano] demonstrated with later films, his approach signaled the arrival of a very competent talent behind the camera. — Mark Tolch