Hitokiri (1969) | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Directed by Hideo Gosha

Title: Hitokiri (1969)

Alternate Title: Tenchu!

Genre: Samurai, Drama, Historical

Plot Synopsis:
Set during the turbulent Bakumatsu period, the film follows Izo Okada, a destitute ronin who becomes an assassin for the Tosa Loyalist Party under the manipulative leader Takechi Hanpeita. As Izo carries out political killings in the name of loyalty, he grapples with his own moral decay and the realization that he is merely a pawn in a larger scheme.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Hideo Gosha
• Writer: Shinobu Hashimoto
• Cast:
  • Shintarō Katsu as Izo Okada
  • Tatsuya Nakadai as Takechi Hanpeita
  • Yukio Mishima as Tanaka Shinbei
  • Yūjirō Ishihara as Ryoma Sakamoto
  • Mitsuko Baisho as Omatsu

IMDb Link:
Hitokiri (1969)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. DavidNeedToKnow – ★★★½
   “A very entertaining samurai film, but unfortunately the runtime with 140 minutes is a bit too long.”
2. Paghat the Ratgirl – ★★★★☆
   “Mishima plays an intensely honorable samurai who commits seppuku over a crime he didn’t commit, because of the dishonor of even being charged.”
3. Lencho of the Apes – ★★★☆☆
   “Early-sound science fiction, set ten years in the future. The parts that don’t require dialogue are executed with some flair; there’s even a quote from Metropolis.”

Meta Description:
Hitokiri (1969), also known as Tenchu!, is a Japanese samurai drama directed by Hideo Gosha. The film explores the moral descent of Izo Okada, a ronin turned assassin, during the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate. Featuring performances by Shintarō Katsu and Tatsuya Nakadai, it delves into themes of loyalty, manipulation, and the human cost of political ambition.