As others have mentioned, this is a solid film about corruption among feudal samurai. The acting and cinematography are both good and the evolution in the characters throughout the film is solid. The action scenes, while not all too common, are very frenetic and gripping.

It is easy to see why this was a Criterion release. There are certainly a number of good samurai movies, but this one isn't like all the others. The title may easily be confused in English with "Sword of Doom" and the protagonist does look quite a bit like Tatsuya Nakadai, but these movies and their themes are completely different.

The movie also stayed with me after watching it. It left me thinking about cults, fraternities and clans. Individuals who dedicate themselves most selflessly to a cause or group, aren't they the easiest group members to sacrifice?

It is interesting that the supposed "beast" in this film is the one who acts with the most honor among all the samurai involved.

It is a short film that has many stories going on.

Gennosuke (Mikijiro Hira) has been betrayed by the vice-Chancellor after he kills the Chancellor of the clan and is on the run, a "beast" forced to live in the forest. He befriends a gold digger, who really has an excellent part with laughs and thoughtful lines.

He also comes across another samurai who has been living in the forest with his wife collecting gold for his clan and hoping for advancement. He, too, will be betrayed, and by the same person as betrayed Gennosuke.

As everything gets sorted out, there is some good swordplay, and, like the western hero we are all familiar with, Gennosuke walks off into the sunset.

Definitely makes me want to check out more of Hideo Gosha.

An unusual samurai tale instead all happening takes place at small village or something like that, all unfolding of the history lays down in a forbidden area where has a creek on high mountain, a couple are prospecting gold under a opposite clan command, which doesn't has the rights over this area, a runaway samurai sees his future in steal this gold as form to be free from their angry pursuers who crying out for revenge, a fabulous landscape displayed on the canyon where running clean calm waters slide around the rocks on the creek, there are a countless little waterfalls neither, surrounded by a native florest, a little rough hut is an unsafe shelter for the poor couple, who fight with others thieves, in those amazing environment the story develops itself, a fabulous new approach to a psychological side, easy understanding by the audience for this marvelous genre!!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 9