SHADOW HUNTERS (1972) Review: The Perfect Kind Of Chambara With Old School Fun, And A Pinch Of Sleaze
Director: Toshio Masuda Starring: Yujiro Ishihara, Ryohei Uchida, Mikio Narita, Ruriko Asaoka, Isao Tamagawa, Tetsuro Tamba More at Filmsmash.com In the era of the Shogun, a battle in the shadows takes place where lords and fiefdoms are under constant threat of conspiracy, land grabs, and evil machinations. As the government tries to take more land under its control, a group of ronin act as mercenaries to prevent this by working under smaller lord’s orders. Among them are the dominant Jubei (Ishihara), the stoic Moonlight (Uchida), and the lascivious Sunlight (Narita). These three find themselves embroiled within a dispute between a small seemingly poor mountain kingdom and between a whole lot of gold and ninja. A Toho production directed by the prolific and successful Toshio Masuda, Shadow Hunters features that right mix of funky 70s era exploitation vibe crossed with competent swordplay that makes for not only a memorable but thoroughly […]