KUBI: Takeshi Kitano Returns With A Hefty Headcount In The Violent, Explosive Official Trailer

Three decades in the making with years of research and a book in toe comes the long-awaited pièce de résistance that is Kubi (or Neck), from director and star Takeshi Kitano in his final feature. The official trailer is now online as well, with the film now subject to reviews fresh out of Cannes where the film screen for the 76th edition.

Set in the 16th century, as rival warlords battled to control Japan. Lord Oda Nobunaga, intent on controlling Japan, is waging war against several clans when one of his vassals, Araki Murashige stages a rebellion and promptly disappears.

Nobunaga assembles his other vassals including Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi, and orders them to capture the fugitive Murashige, warning “I’ll choose whoever works hardest as my successor.”

With various thoughts, schemes, and traps they carry out, they’re soon brought to a crossroads in a complicated situation.

All roads lead to Honno-ji temple, where fate awaits them all.

Which way will their heads roll…?

Kitano directs from his own script with a story that aims to explore one of feudal Japan’s biggest mysteries surrounding the Honno-ji Temple ambush. According to introductory language on the movie, Kitano’s theory explores a storied focus on the perspectives of the ninja and footsoliders “missing from traditional samurai narratives,” as well as the rivaling warlords.

Effectively the film also strives to keep the promise of reinventing the samurai genre as the late Akira Kurosawa once deemed:

Kitano originally envisioned his epic in 1993, when Akira Kurosawa was still alive to predict, “When Kitano directs this film, it will surely rival my own “Seven Samurai.”

At the very least I’m certain that as far as expectations go, heads will definitely roll. The new trailer for Kubi antes up on the violence a wee bit (i.e. bodies and kill shots, etc.) so take that as you will for any sort of NSFW disclaimer. If you know who Kitano is, then without a doubt you know what you’re in for.

Kadokawa is releasing Kubi in Japan on November 23 and is handling world sales on the pic. Rounding out the cast are Hidetoshi Nishijima, Ryo Kase, Kaoru Kobayashi, Shido Nakamura, Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Kenichi Endo, Ittoku Kishibe and Yuichi Kimura.

Lee B. Golden III

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Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.