Review of The Sword of Doom (1966) by Nate A — 30 Sep 2008

Ever wonder what "No Country for Old Men" would be like if it were set during the final years of the Tokugawa Era in Japan? This is as close as you'll get.

What starts as a fairly traditional samurai revenge story instead descends into a study of madness, evil, and nihilism. The main character Ryonusuke is one of the most wicked characters I've ever seen in a movie. In the first 5 minutes, he cuts down an old pilgrim in prayer for no reason at all, and that's just the beginning of his wickedness. This is a pretty dense movie, with lots of names, titles, and storylines to follow. There are several incredible swordfights, including the ending which is pure bloody mayhem, reminiscent of "Macbeth" or "Richard III".