The story begins with the Bride, a former member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DVAS), waking up from a coma after four years. She discovers that she was left for dead on her wedding day by her former lover and leader of the DVAS, Bill (played by David Carradine), and her fellow assassins.
Filled with a desire for revenge, the Bride embarks on a mission to track down and kill each member of the DVAS who betrayed her. In “Vol. 1,” she targets two of her former associates: O-Ren Ishii (played by Lucy Liu), the leader of the Tokyo Yakuza and Vernita Green (played by Vivica A. Fox), a retired assassin now living a suburban life.
The film is structured as a series of chapters, each focusing on the Bride’s encounters with her targets and her journey toward vengeance. Along the way, she faces off against numerous adversaries, including O-Ren’s army of bodyguards, the Crazy 88, and Vernita’s young daughter.
In a series of intense and stylized fight scenes, the Bride dispatches her enemies with deadly precision, leaving a trail of carnage in her wake. As she gets closer to her ultimate goal of killing Bill, she uncovers more about the events that led to her betrayal and the truth behind her former life as an assassin.
The film’s climax comes when the Bride confronts O-Ren Ishii in a showdown at a Japanese restaurant. In a spectacular battle, the Bride defeats O-Ren and her army of Yakuza henchmen, culminating in a dramatic sword fight between the two women. After a fierce struggle, the Bride emerges victorious, beheading O-Ren and avenging her past betrayal.
The film ends with the Bride crossing O-Ren off her list of targets and continuing her quest for vengeance, setting the stage for the events of “Kill Bill: Vol. 2.”
“Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is celebrated for its stylish direction, inventive action sequences, and Uma Thurman’s iconic performance as the vengeful Bride. With its blend of martial arts, spaghetti western, and samurai cinema influences, the film is a thrilling and visually stunning homage to classic genre films.