The title and the opening shots of this jidaigeki might bring Kurosawa to mind, but it’s more like a brutal Zatoichi film. Three desperate peasants kidnap a magistrate’s daughter simply to use as leverage in tax reform negotiations. A wandering ronin takes pity on their plight and lends his sword in aid, but the magistrate has ronin of his own…
TOS was Gosha’s début feature, but you’d never guess. It’s a masterful display of pacing, characterisation, social commentary and fierce fights that rely on skill, often with little or no edits. If you're a fan of chanbara but haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and seek it out.
4½ betrayals out of 5
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