Why So Blu?

Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf (Blu-ray Review)

Unjustly ignored on its release, director Kurando Mitsutake’s tale of a modern day blind swordsman assassin turns Japanese genre conventions upside down. Fans have long requested this wild mix of Tarantino and ZATOICHI in HD, and Synapse Films has pulled out all the stops to create an awesome special edition for release only on Blu-ray.  If you’ll remember, Mitsutake is the director of GUN WOMAN, a film that I reviewed last weekend and is coming to Blu-ray the same day.  Set in nowhere and in no time, SAMURAI AVENGER: THE BLIND WOLF is a bloody sushi-western and a modern day action film with a classic samurai essence.

Film 

After losing his eyesight, his wife, and his daughter at the hands of a deranged psychopath, a man is transformed into an unstoppable killing machine hellbent on revenge! Eight years after the massacre of his family, the “Blind Wolf” has returned as a highly trained swordsman ready to seek justice. But he doesn’t know seven deadly (and even undead) assassins have been hired by his sworn enemy to make sure he doesn’t leave town alive!

For the past month or so, Synapse Films has been boasting to us that they cannot wait until we get to see it.  We all sit patiently waiting for their fabled Dario Argento releases (Suspiria, Tenebrae, Phenomena) and Popcorn (HELLLL YES) to showcase for them.  In the meantime, they’re giving us some really interesting stuff nobody is talking about.  They don’t release a ton of Blu-rays per month and usually just every few there’s one, but they usually open your eye to something interesting.  Here was hoping with this one.

And I gotta say, this film is a lot of fun.  There is a dedication to being ridiculous and offensive that’s all tongue in cheek and in good spirits.  While this director still seems to have a problem with his women characters in movies, in a parody situation like this, I’m more willing to give him a pass.  There’s just so much crazy fun and its more in an exploitation and tribute fashion that it is any sort of mean spirited attitude.  But, because of this I can confidently say this isn’t for everyone as its sure to offend those who don’t “get” it.

One thing great about this movie?  BLOOD SPLATTER and TONS of it.  In the horror realm, we’d call this splatstick, but this is a samurai movie.  Most of the gore effects are done practically, which is just lovely to watch the blood just fire out like its from a hose.  Its bound to get a laugh out of you.  There are some CG blood and gore effects scenes.  And while they are painfully obvious, they are of the very few.

I had some fun with Samurai Avenger.  Its an interesting take on doing one of these vintage throwback films.  They tout it as some uncut version of a lost samurai movie nobody has seen before.  There is a lot of fun to go with that concept and they really take advantage and run with it.  For those who can get in on the joke, its a definite recommend.  Also, for those who just like really awesome old school gore effects done realistically and intentionally poor, you HAVE to see some of these scenes.

Video 

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1o80p

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Clarity/Detail:  Wit the intentionally crummy aesthetic and a constantly changing one at that, its hard to really judge things.  If its looking crappy, its doing its job sort of thing.  But, trying to see it as what its doing, it looks really good.  There is plenty of detail to be seen.  Most of the intended film stock look really prevails and succeeds.

Depth:  Movement is smooth and clean.  Characters and objects fit loosely and cleanly in every environment.

Black Levels: There are varying degrees of blacks, but all of them work quite well with their aesthetic.  There is some crushing present.  Detail is solid and not really too hidden.

Color Reproduction:  Colors look good with whatever look the film is currently going for.  Reds stick out and look gorgeous.

Flesh Tones:  Skin tones reflect the intended look with accuracy and consistency.  Facial detail shows cuts, scratches, wrinkles, stubble and blemishes quite well given the intentionally crummy look.

Noise/Artifacts:  Only intentional print damage.  So, really nothing.

Audio 

Audio Format(s): English 5.1 DTS-HD MA

Subtitles: N/A (Hard-coded English in some areas)

Dynamics:  Like the video, the audio is a hard one to judge as well.  They’ve done a really great job making this sound of the 70s era its intended to be in.  Things can sound muffled and analog at times.  It also features some dynamic sound as swords whish by and clank.  At times a very crisp and smooth track.

Low Frequency Extension:  There are some good scoring beats, and when swords puncture there’s an extra oompf from the subwoofer.

Surround Sound Presentation:  Not a whole lot going on in the rear speakers.  Some ambiance and scoring but that’s about it.  There’s some action up front with the effects moving left to right and displaying distance with accuracy.

Dialogue Reproduction:  Dialogue is clean and clear.  It features some intentional vintage analog sounding moments along with some also intended muffledness.

Extras 

Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf‘s reverse side of the cover insert features a promotional photo.

Audio Commentary

• With Director Kurando Mitsutake, Producer Chiaki Yanagimoto and Editor John Migdal

“Making Of” Documentary (HD, 1:29:22) – An insanely detailed and documented look at shooting this film.  Features interviews, on set footage, rehearsal footage, special effects test, post production, you name it.  It’s pretty awesome.

Sword Fight Choreography (HD, 12:21) – Videos the fight choreographer made for each cast member to study to mock its style during fight sequences.

Production Stills Slideshow (HD, 4:30) 

Character Design and Storyboard Slideshow (HD, 3:39) – Features hand drawn sketches of characters and scenes/shots in the movie

Storyboard Scene Comparison (HD, 4:49) – From the opening scene of the film.

Blooper Reel (HD, 10:18) 

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:41) 

Summary 

For the people who will understand and dig the material Samurai Avenger is cribbing from and celebrating, you’re going to probably get a real kick out of it.  The film is knowingly incredibly silly and constantly wants to shock you and “go there”.  Plus, if you love watching blood splatter everywhere, this is your film regardless.  The presentation from Synapse on here is terrific.  The bonus material is outstanding, leaving you incredibly satisfied and scratching your head to think what else could have been included.  For those interested, this is a high recommend and an easy pick up.