A Japanese box-office sensation directed by the revered Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale), Legend of the Eight Samurai brings together an impressive ensemble cast, including Hiroko Yakushimaru (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun), Hiroyuki Sanada (Ring), Sonny Chiba (Message from Space) and Etsuko Shihomi (The Street Fighter), in a sweeping epic that blends fantasy with historical drama.
The Satomi Clan have been all-but wiped out by their mortal enemies: the ghoulish members of the undead Hikita Clan. The last Satomi survivor is Princess Shizu (Yakushimaru), who goes into hiding to avoid meeting the same fate as her family. Left to wander on her own, she eventually becomes entangled with farmer-turned-soldier Shinbei (Sanada) and then a pair of warrior monks who reveal themselves to be two of eight fabled Hakkenden – or “Dog Warriors” – who can lift the curse that has been placed upon her family. Together, they must find the rest of the Hakkenden and take on the leader of the Hikita Clan: the evil Tamazusa (Mari Natsuki).
Following Message from Space, which transported the story to a science fiction setting, Legend of the Eight Samurai is Fukasaku’s second loose adaptation of Toshio Kamata's Shin Satomi Hakkenden, itself an adaptation of Kyokutei Bakin’s earlier epic novel Nanso Satomi Hakkenden. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a new 4K restoration.
LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
Limited edition of 2000 copies | Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Chris Malbon | 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 4K restoration | Uncompressed original Japanese audio and alternate English dub track | Optional English subtitles | New audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Joe Hickinbottom | New Interview with Kinji Fukasaku's son, filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku | New video essay by film historian and critic Stuart Galbraith IV | Theatrical trailer | PLUS: A Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Tom Mes, co-founder of Midnight Eye
