Premiering at Cannes this year, Takashi Miike brought his (100th!) new film Blade of the Immortal, a jidaigeki (period drama) action film based on the manga series by Hiroaki Samura. The story follows Manji, a samurai who cannot be killed by any wound, but who is vulnerable to a rare poison. Manji is enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents, who were killed by a master swordsman.
Now set for a North American premiere at Fantastic Fest followed by a release in November, the first U.S. red band trailer has landed courtesy of Magnet Releasing. Featuring a wild ensemble of characters and slick-looking action, it’s looking like the ideal alternative from prestige fare this fall. Starring Takuya Kimura, Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki, see the trailer below.
Samurai Manji has taken a lot of lives, both innocent and guilty, and now lives life in feudal Japan as a criminal. After being cursed with immortality until he kills enough evil men, Manji meets a young girl who enlists him to be her body-guard. Swearing loyalty, protection and vengeance against the group of sword fighters who slaughtered her family, the unlikely duo set on a remarkable quest to make right against those who did them wrong.
Blade of the Immortal opens on November 3.