Samurai Reincarnation

1981 Directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Horror Marathon Day 10 Film 16

Thousands of Christians lay slaughtered after a rebellion in Japan against the Shogun. Their Christian leader becomes a Solomonic necromancer that finds various spirits and those close to death that want to exact their own token revenge on the land- creating a band of devils that will destroy the country. The iconic Sonny Chiba is set against this band of devils however- being a one eyed sword master with attitude- he goes to a mystical swordsmith that creates a sword fit to slay such demons (Kill Bill gives a nod to this decades later).

How each devil comes into themselves is enthralling- spending time on their own guilt and shame to why they'd each participate in such a maniacal plan to be brought back from death. The opening shots are especially grim and full of horrific images of the slain Christian heads split to increase the hellscape quality by mass carnage. The necromancer is especially interesting after renouncing God he utilizes the magic of the Christian undeath to create his faction of the dead- giving to a theme of something foreign plaguing the land.

Howling beauties and sword masters seek their ultimate death and honor through duels- executed with beautiful shots in the forest or by the sea. The set design has an explorative quality- a cinematic haze that permeates the film as a warped vision. I especially enjoyed the frenetic quality of the swordplay- chasing each other in parallels- lasting in mere moments of an eye before the final devastating blow! By the time we're to the final act with cascades of smoke and the grandeur of a burning castle it becomes inevitable that evil will continue to prosper and grow, no matter how many blades are forged.