Like its predecessor, Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yōtei celebrates renowned Japanese filmmakers through special presentation modes. Where Ghost of Tsushima had only a black-and-white homage to the classic samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, the sequel sees Sucker Punch partnering with Samurai Champloo director Shinichirō Watanabe for a presentation mode that adds lo-fi beats. It also includes a Takashi Miike Mode that ramps up blood and mud in fights and puts the camera closer to the action.
Miike is a director with a wide-ranging filmography, with his films including bloody yakuza epics, kids’ movies, and live-action manga adaptations. But if you’re looking for a place to start, anyone enjoying the samurai sword fights of Ghost of Yōtei needs to check out Miike’s 13 Assassins, a bloody good samurai flick.
Released in 2010, 13 Assassins is a remake of the 1963 film of the same name from director Eiichi Kudo. It follows a group of assassins who, vastly outnumbered, set out to kill the sadistic Lord Matsudaira Naritsugu (Goro Inagaki) before he can join the Shogunate Council. Other lords fear Naritsugu rising to power would cause civil war as he’s left a trail of noble blood in his wake, while his familial ties to the Shōgun have left him unpunished.
Because of Naritsugu’s actions and a blood-filled final act, 13 Assassins is not a film for the faint of heart. It opens with a character protesting Naritsugu’s ascent by committing seppuku, ritual suicide by slicing through one’s abdomen. The lord’s sadistic acts aren’t just alluded to by other characters, they’re shown. He fires arrows at defenseless servants, and rapes a woman before beheading her husband.
The assassins are justified, to say the least.
The samurai Shimada Shinzaemon (Koji Yakusho) is tasked with taking out Naritsugu. Much of the first half of the film is spent establishing Naritsugu’s threat while Shinzaemon recruits allies. He and his assassins then travel to a town where they can ambush Naritsugu (fending off enemies along the way). Once the group arrives, Miike really gets cooking.
The film’s final act shows why 13 Assassins has become such a beloved samurai film. Shinzaemon and his allies don’t just lie in wait for Naritsugu to deliver himself to their blades. They’re 13 against 200, and have to use everything at their disposal to take down Naritsugu’s forces. Namely, turning the entire town of Ochiai against him. (But not its citizens, who thankfully flee and aren’t caught up in the carnage.) The town itself becomes a weapon; the assassins construct countless traps and barriers that would make Kevin McAllister jealous, doing everything they can to gain an upper hand in the battle to come.
That battle is glorious — and easy to follow. You won’t find the shaky cam of a Bourne film muddying up the action, or simple sequences needing a million cuts. Instead, wide shots and excellent choreography leave no room for visual confusion, making an already exciting extended battle sequence all the better. The action is always clear, even as countless enemies pounce on (and are slaughtered by) a lone swordsman in a field of katanas, for example.
Revisiting 13 Assassins, you can see why Sucker Punch associates increased blood and mud with Miike; the assassins and their foes just get caked in it. No one comes out unscathed, and those left standing at the end are covered in the grime of battle. It also feels very grounded, with minimal CGI used just for explosions around town. The practicality of the costumes, sets, and action give 13 Assassins something of a timeless feel; it’s 15 years old by now, yet looks like it could have been released last week.
When Ghost of Yōtei players need a break from playing samurai action and just want to watch some samurai action, they should check out 13 Assassins. Miike’s samurai flick pairs perfectly with the game, and is a much watch for any fans of the genre.
13 Assassins is streaming free with ads on Philo. It’s available to rent on Amazon and other digital services.
