For quite a while humans and the Yokai shape-shifting monsters were able to live in harmony. But, soon the racist humans wanted the Yokai out of the equation with war sending the monsters into exile. Master Onizo wishes for harmony to exist once again and has benefited from what he believed was a satisfying relationship with Yamayi-sama, a leader-on-the-rise for the humans hoping to win a place in the hierarchy of the Lord. To decidedly earn a high position, Yamayi-sama plans to wipe out the Yokai remaining alive under Onizo's clan, betraying his trust and ruining his vision of peace. Kikio, a human, is actually Onizo's woman and a picture of beauty who is spiritually driven often seen on her knees praying. Enter in the Yokai Samurai warrior Kibakichi(Ryuuji Harada whose penetrating anguished eyes peer from a mass of hair)who is a loner often living amongst the humans, who now hates them with a prolonging passion. He trusted them once, like Onizo does now, and paid the price for it costing the lives of an entire peaceful village of hidden Yokai who were wiped out by the blind-sided human attack. Kibakichi makes his way into the clan of Onizo, whose major interest to the outside world is his illegal gambling table. In an interesting note, various Yokai killers, often find their way into secret rooms by Onizo where they are killed by the monsters. Kibakichi tries desperately to warn Onizo and his men against trusting Yamayi-sama, but the unrelenting hope for peace against the endless violence is all the boss is consumed with. As one would expect, Yamayi-sama does plan to attack what he considers a thorn in his side and that would be Onizo's village using more modern weaponry brought in from England..a massive rotating machine gun that will eliminate the more primitive foes who merely use swords. Dubbing it the end result a massacre, would be an understatement. But, when you unleash the beast within Kibakichi all the machine guns, men, and grenades may not stop him.
A stunning film, featuring some amazing swordplay, beautiful photography and lighting(I adore how Tomoo Haraguchi and cinematographer Shôji Ebara hit a patch of light on characters' faces as they sit amongst darkened rooms and also shade their monsters only giving the viewer enough during a portion of the film to know that they are not human), and some gut-wrenching gore. Lots of decapitated heads and arms, blood that squirts in endless supplies as complete arms are sliced off. One sequence shows, in Kibakichi's opening battle, a sword sticking in the ground with a chopped off hand still clutching it! Kibakichi is essentially a werewolf, but director Haraguchi waits to unveil that beast late in the major showdown when the humans try to hit him with everything they got. Nozomi Andô as Onizo's human love Kikyo is very beautiful underneath a quiet exterior.
I watched the subtitled version, so I saw the best the film could offer me. I know it's received some criticism on here, but I had one hell of a good time with this flick. The monster battle at the end and the intense gunfire exploding all around Kibakichi in werewolf form as the city is destroyed around him are amazing action set-pieces. Highly recommended to those with fairly strong stomachs.
A stunning film, featuring some amazing swordplay, beautiful photography and lighting(I adore how Tomoo Haraguchi and cinematographer Shôji Ebara hit a patch of light on characters' faces as they sit amongst darkened rooms and also shade their monsters only giving the viewer enough during a portion of the film to know that they are not human), and some gut-wrenching gore. Lots of decapitated heads and arms, blood that squirts in endless supplies as complete arms are sliced off. One sequence shows, in Kibakichi's opening battle, a sword sticking in the ground with a chopped off hand still clutching it! Kibakichi is essentially a werewolf, but director Haraguchi waits to unveil that beast late in the major showdown when the humans try to hit him with everything they got. Nozomi Andô as Onizo's human love Kikyo is very beautiful underneath a quiet exterior.
I watched the subtitled version, so I saw the best the film could offer me. I know it's received some criticism on here, but I had one hell of a good time with this flick. The monster battle at the end and the intense gunfire exploding all around Kibakichi in werewolf form as the city is destroyed around him are amazing action set-pieces. Highly recommended to those with fairly strong stomachs.