Synopsis:
A mercenary swordsman (Tomisaburô Wakayama) travelling across the countryside with his young son (Masahiro Tomikana) in medieval Japan helps a poor young woman (Yuko Hama) escape from being sold into prostitution, but must deal with the wrath of the madam (Yuko Hamada) who expects payment in exchange.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Father and Child
• Japanese Films
• Samurai

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary’s review of this third entry in the “Lone Wolf and Cub” cinematic franchise — based on the popular manga series of the same name — refers to it as “an edited entry” that “arrived in the U.S. with the first of the Kung Fu imports,” and notes that the “worst thing about the film is the dubbing”; however, the version I watched for this review is in the original language, and is a discrete film in its own right (albeit part of a longer multi-episode narrative).

With that caveat out of the way, I’ll note that Peary refers to Wakayama as “the most honorable of men” (yet someone who is “willing to use his boy as a decoy”) — a man who “comes to the rescue of a woman sold into prostitution”:

… and then “finds himself in the middle” of this woman and “the cruel female who heads a powerful family”:

… ultimately agreeing “to kill an evil governor” and “fighting a one-man war against both sides.” Through all this, “the boy watches the bloodshed without changing expressions.”

Peary argues that while the “film moves along like a turtle with a broken leg,” there “are many interruptions for violent swordplay,” and “the action scenes are extremely imaginative, well filmed and choreographed.” A notable “highlight has him single-handedly shooting, blowing up, and slicing-and-dicing an entire army” — but “more violent [still] are his one-on-one confrontations,” such as when “he kills one skilled swordsman by flying over him and pushing his sword directly down through the top of his skull.”

Peary concludes by noting that the film “could do without a rape sequence that has nothing to do with the plot” (I completely agree) and “a tasteless bit in which the would-be prostitute bites the tongue from the guy trying to force himself on her” (I’m okay with this scene!). While this flick clearly isn’t for all tastes, it’s easy to see how and why it would appeal to its cult followers, so I recommend it for one-time viewing just to check it out.

Note: I had never heard of ohaguro before this film (a married woman painting her teeth black).

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Exciting action sequences
  
• Fine cinematography
  
  

Must See?
Yes, for its cult value.

Categories

• Cult Movie

Links:

• IMDb entry
• DVD Savant Review
• Spinning Image Review