Sword of Doom is not a really coherent or satisfying (in the traditional sense) film, but, none the less, I love it. It blends a fascinating character study with the more traditional trappings of a Japanese samurai film. The reason it succeeds so well with me is that it breaks every rule of both.
First of all, our `hero' is, well, not one. He is an unpredictable lunatic with no moral sensibilities whatsoever. Ryunosuke is a person who succumbs to the inner darkness that dwells in every man, and revels in it. It's like the director was going to make a fairly traditional samurai action flick, but as a twist he decided to make it from the point of view of the villain. It takes a, uh, `different' kind of person to relate with Ryunosuke. The fact that I can relate with him very well opens the door for me to thoroughly enjoy this brilliant work of art. Tatsuya Nakadai's performance is absolutely phenomenal. He truly understands this complex and unique character and brings him to life brilliantly through a series of unsurpassed broods and scowls.
The plot is quite interesting at first, and then turns more conventional as it builds up a duel between Ryunosuke and the brother of one of his victims. You would expect a typical climax to happen, but, in a stroke of pure genius, the film takes a turn for the insane. Instead of the obligatory end duel, Ryunosuke descends into the mouth of madness as wave after wave of fencers attack him while the house burns down around them. The ambiguous fate of our `hero' is the icing on the cake. I couldn't love this movie any more for its freak-you attitude in the face of conventionalism, and for the brilliant performance by Nakadai.
First of all, our `hero' is, well, not one. He is an unpredictable lunatic with no moral sensibilities whatsoever. Ryunosuke is a person who succumbs to the inner darkness that dwells in every man, and revels in it. It's like the director was going to make a fairly traditional samurai action flick, but as a twist he decided to make it from the point of view of the villain. It takes a, uh, `different' kind of person to relate with Ryunosuke. The fact that I can relate with him very well opens the door for me to thoroughly enjoy this brilliant work of art. Tatsuya Nakadai's performance is absolutely phenomenal. He truly understands this complex and unique character and brings him to life brilliantly through a series of unsurpassed broods and scowls.
The plot is quite interesting at first, and then turns more conventional as it builds up a duel between Ryunosuke and the brother of one of his victims. You would expect a typical climax to happen, but, in a stroke of pure genius, the film takes a turn for the insane. Instead of the obligatory end duel, Ryunosuke descends into the mouth of madness as wave after wave of fencers attack him while the house burns down around them. The ambiguous fate of our `hero' is the icing on the cake. I couldn't love this movie any more for its freak-you attitude in the face of conventionalism, and for the brilliant performance by Nakadai.