Akemi Tachibana(Meiko Kaji)attempts to the keep the wishes of her slain father by not allowing her clan to continue the blood shed that is known to occur when rival Yakuza families desire total control. That becomes impossible when rival godfather Dobashi(Toru Abe)uses a traitor amongst the Tachibana clan, Tatsu(Shirô Otsuji), and his thugs to kill off certain of their members while also planting narcotics within their village shops using the police to imprison many of the workers. What Akemi doesn't expect is another rival joining forces with Dobashi, a blind female master swords-woman, Aiko(Hoki Tokuda)seeking revenge for the murder of her brother(..Akemi also blinded her accidentally at the beginning of the film when Aiko attempted to save her brother during a sword battle between the Yakuza clans out of retribution for the slain leader of Tachibana's family). Another less intimidating Yakuza clan(..which is still a powerful, influential clan)operated by the Aozora(Ryohei Uchida; a source of comedy relief, wearing a bowler hat and loin cloth whose body odor is used as an object of scorn)also make occasional appearances in the village which works as an epicenter right in the middle of the various Yakuza clans. With Aiko assisting Dobashi and Tatsu in eliminating members of the Tachibana clan, Akemi, having withstood much strife due to the attacks against her people, vows revenge while also disbanding her Yakuza family so that they can live without harm. But, Dobashi soon realizes that Aiko is much more honorable than she first appears and he will also have to contend with another emerging adversary, Tani Shouichi(Makoto Satô), a wandering loner who has disdain for injustice, whose rage is fueled by Tatsu's violence towards a kind restaurant owner, Ojiki(Yoshi Kato) and his daughter Chie(Yôko Takagi).
Director Teruo Ishii fuses the Samurai and Yakuza genres into a blood-soaked tale of violence, betrayal, and revenge with lots of animated characters. Kaji is the beautiful Yakuza leader who attempts to attain the peace in a ruthless society vying for more and more power. She's haunted by the image of the black cat, how such a feline was licking the blood from the slashed eyes of Aiko. Hoki Tokuda holds a blank expression yet equally impresses due to her masterful skill at realistically presenting a blind woman with intense concentration who defends herself well against opposing forces. What's really interesting is how you sympathize with both females, understanding Aiko's desire for revenge yet, thanks to Kaji's charm and likability, wish for her no harm. Satô is a welcome presence as an honorable sojourner who moves from village to village, town to town, fighting corruption and standing against wrong-doing, falling in love with the sweet/stunning beauty Takagi. Takagi is the virginal innocent who works dutifully for her soft-spoken and courteous father, Kato who stands against Abe's sadistic Dobashi and treacherous slimeball Otsuiji paying the price when doesn't serve or recognize them as respectable customers despite the obvious results for not doing so. Ishii brings back Tatsumi Hijikata as another lunatic, this time a hunchbacked performer who slaves lovingly(..and obsessively)for his master, blind Tokuda. After several Tachibana clan members fall to her sword, Hijikata skins the dragon snake tattoos from their backs!Abe perfectly embodies the diabolical crime-lord, a loathsome piece of work with a den of opium-addicted forced prostitutes and a gambling trade that swindles customers. Otsuji is just as contemptible and malicious as he is, seizing upon elder Kato with extra thugs..many against one old man, and that was through a blind attack with Kato unable to properly defend himself. There's no need to worry because the finale allows Kaji, Satô and her fellow sword-fighters a showdown with Abe, Otsuji, and their army of hoods, in a grisly climax where lots of slicing leads to blood spray. I especially enjoy how the dual between Kaji and Tokuda ends, a proper close to a much anticipated sword-fight.
Busy plot, plenty of unique characterizations, some of the usual Ishii depravity(..how he uses a black cat and Hijikata, in regards to the tattooed flesh skinned from victims has to be seen to be believed), interesting sword-fights, beautiful Asian women, some nasty villains to cheer against, and the expected blood shed all make BLIND WOMAN'S CURSE a must-see for fans of the Samurai/Yakuza genres.
Director Teruo Ishii fuses the Samurai and Yakuza genres into a blood-soaked tale of violence, betrayal, and revenge with lots of animated characters. Kaji is the beautiful Yakuza leader who attempts to attain the peace in a ruthless society vying for more and more power. She's haunted by the image of the black cat, how such a feline was licking the blood from the slashed eyes of Aiko. Hoki Tokuda holds a blank expression yet equally impresses due to her masterful skill at realistically presenting a blind woman with intense concentration who defends herself well against opposing forces. What's really interesting is how you sympathize with both females, understanding Aiko's desire for revenge yet, thanks to Kaji's charm and likability, wish for her no harm. Satô is a welcome presence as an honorable sojourner who moves from village to village, town to town, fighting corruption and standing against wrong-doing, falling in love with the sweet/stunning beauty Takagi. Takagi is the virginal innocent who works dutifully for her soft-spoken and courteous father, Kato who stands against Abe's sadistic Dobashi and treacherous slimeball Otsuiji paying the price when doesn't serve or recognize them as respectable customers despite the obvious results for not doing so. Ishii brings back Tatsumi Hijikata as another lunatic, this time a hunchbacked performer who slaves lovingly(..and obsessively)for his master, blind Tokuda. After several Tachibana clan members fall to her sword, Hijikata skins the dragon snake tattoos from their backs!Abe perfectly embodies the diabolical crime-lord, a loathsome piece of work with a den of opium-addicted forced prostitutes and a gambling trade that swindles customers. Otsuji is just as contemptible and malicious as he is, seizing upon elder Kato with extra thugs..many against one old man, and that was through a blind attack with Kato unable to properly defend himself. There's no need to worry because the finale allows Kaji, Satô and her fellow sword-fighters a showdown with Abe, Otsuji, and their army of hoods, in a grisly climax where lots of slicing leads to blood spray. I especially enjoy how the dual between Kaji and Tokuda ends, a proper close to a much anticipated sword-fight.
Busy plot, plenty of unique characterizations, some of the usual Ishii depravity(..how he uses a black cat and Hijikata, in regards to the tattooed flesh skinned from victims has to be seen to be believed), interesting sword-fights, beautiful Asian women, some nasty villains to cheer against, and the expected blood shed all make BLIND WOMAN'S CURSE a must-see for fans of the Samurai/Yakuza genres.