Review of Throne of Blood (1957) by Eric O — 23 Sep 2012

Striking an impecable balance between theatric and cinematic, Throne of Blood showcases some of Akira Kurosawa's best direction, which is atmospheric and surreal. This is a terrific retelling of Macbeth featuring the always excellent Toshiro Mifune in the leading role.

He commands the screen with his intense face and at times goes over the top in a rage that only a samurai could convey. The costumes and thin, often piercing music give this movie an extremely kabuki-esque feel, making this one of Kurosawa's most theatrical works.

The film's final scene features one of the greatest death scenes ever committed to film. Its freneticism and brutality will leave you wondering if they actually shot Mifune with all of those arrows.