Ogami (well played by the husky Tomisaburo Wakayama) gets hired to rub out tattooed female assassin Oyuki (a strong portrayal by striking slender brunette Michi Azuma). Meanwhile, bitter rival killer Yagyyu Gunbei (an excellent performance by Yoichi Hayashi) stumbles across Ogami's son Daigoro (adorable Akihiro Tomikawa) and seizes upon his chance to exact revenge on Ogami.
Director Buichi Saito brings a pleasingly pulpy B-grade trash aesthetic to the series: The lively and eventful story unfolds at a breathless brisk pace, the trademark over-the-top excessive violence is present and accounted for (blood squirts and spurts all over the place), and the beautiful Mrs. Azuma supplies a satisfying smattering of tasty female nudity. Moreover, the exciting sword fights are staged with considerable flair and skill, with Ogami butchering a slew of guys at the end and even taking a brutal beating in the process. Kazou Koike's compact and thoughtful script not only delivers on the thrilling visceral basics, but also shows how thankless Ogami's plight as a hired killer can be and has some provocative stuff to say about the fundamental Japanese principle of honor. Hideaki Sakurai's funky-grinding score hits the get-down groovy spot. Kazou Miyagawa's sumptuous cinematography provides a wealth of stunning visuals. Good grindhouse fun.
Director Buichi Saito brings a pleasingly pulpy B-grade trash aesthetic to the series: The lively and eventful story unfolds at a breathless brisk pace, the trademark over-the-top excessive violence is present and accounted for (blood squirts and spurts all over the place), and the beautiful Mrs. Azuma supplies a satisfying smattering of tasty female nudity. Moreover, the exciting sword fights are staged with considerable flair and skill, with Ogami butchering a slew of guys at the end and even taking a brutal beating in the process. Kazou Koike's compact and thoughtful script not only delivers on the thrilling visceral basics, but also shows how thankless Ogami's plight as a hired killer can be and has some provocative stuff to say about the fundamental Japanese principle of honor. Hideaki Sakurai's funky-grinding score hits the get-down groovy spot. Kazou Miyagawa's sumptuous cinematography provides a wealth of stunning visuals. Good grindhouse fun.