When the sales copy for the movie promises "the most gory ninja film of its era," you know I'm going to be ready for it. Haunted Samurai is based on the works of Goseki Kojima, the artist behind Lone Wolf and Cub.
Rokuheita Kusanagi (Hideki Takahashi) is given the toughest assignments by his master Yojiro. He must track down deserters to his clan and kill them in battle, such as his brother-in-law. In the aftermath of that success, his sister hangs herself. Now, he must find another deserter, one with a wife and child. He decides that he has had enough and he becomes the one that is hunted. There's a killer a lot like him named Kyonosuke (Isao Natsuyagi) and in the movie's wildest moment, an entire army of topless female ninjas who rise out of the water in a fight that sees women spitting daggers and a swordfight underwater.
As an eclipse comes closer, Kusanagi tries to become a farmer and forget the bloody past. It will never go away and he's always seconds away from being discovered and having to kill again. You can't escape the past, at least in samurai film.
Directed by Keiichi Ozawa, I didn't find this lived up to the levels of gore promised, but I enjoyed it so much that I didn't care. This is a great looking movie and a really fun release. I look forward to seeing what Surviving Elements has coming out after this.
Rokuheita Kusanagi (Hideki Takahashi) is given the toughest assignments by his master Yojiro. He must track down deserters to his clan and kill them in battle, such as his brother-in-law. In the aftermath of that success, his sister hangs herself. Now, he must find another deserter, one with a wife and child. He decides that he has had enough and he becomes the one that is hunted. There's a killer a lot like him named Kyonosuke (Isao Natsuyagi) and in the movie's wildest moment, an entire army of topless female ninjas who rise out of the water in a fight that sees women spitting daggers and a swordfight underwater.
As an eclipse comes closer, Kusanagi tries to become a farmer and forget the bloody past. It will never go away and he's always seconds away from being discovered and having to kill again. You can't escape the past, at least in samurai film.
Directed by Keiichi Ozawa, I didn't find this lived up to the levels of gore promised, but I enjoyed it so much that I didn't care. This is a great looking movie and a really fun release. I look forward to seeing what Surviving Elements has coming out after this.
