Review of Shogun Assassin (1980) by Mjs M — 22 Oct 2008

"Shogun Assassin" (1980).

I can't add too much more to this review than what others have said. This Pinky/Samurai movie is pieced together from two of the six "Lone Wolf & Cub" series of movies, "Sword of Vengeance" and "Baby Cart to Hades" (I believe, but frankly they all sort of blur together) that were based on the popular manga comic series.

These two movies were filmed in the early 70s, but "Shogun Assassin" was basically chopped up, dubbed, and edited for the American market by Robert Houston and David Weisman.

The Shogun's official executioner, Ogami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama) is the victim of a ruthless plot from Lord Retsudo, the leader of the Yagyu Clan that leaves his wife dead. Ogami takes his infant son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) away with him and becomes a living ghost, wondering the land as a master-less Samurai for hire.

"Shogun Assassin" is one of those movies that are "so bad that it's good". I had worn out my VHS copy of this movie. My friends and I used to laugh and make faucet noises whenever a character would get cut, and blood would spray or squirt out from them. It's very bloody and also has lots of nudity but somehow it's not to be taken too seriously.

I bought the "Sword of Vengeance" DVD a while ago, and the film quality is 95% better, but frankly, it wasn't near as much fun as "Shogun Assassin" was. I found myself wishing that I could find this DVD instead.