YOROI SAMURAI ZOMBIE (Japan, 2008)
Directed by: Tak Sakaguchi
Starring: Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Issei Ishida, Tak Sakaguchi, Ari Nakajima, Shintaro Matsubara

Never one to be content in a single genre, director Tak Sakaguchi (BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOL) unleashes a new vision of classic horror with YOROI: SAMURAI ZOMBIE.

When a family traveling through the countryside is held captive by a group of deranged criminals, they fear their idyllic life can’t get much worse. Unfortunately, the captives and their aggressors unknowingly stumble across the stomping grounds of an undead Samurai warrior whose attitude toward outsiders is nothing short of grossly appalling. Instead of rolling out the welcome mat, limbs are being severed, heads are popping off, and this ghostly warrior’s hapless victims are going from humans to shish kebabs faster than they can high-tail it back to civilization.

A rich, atmospheric horror feature, YOROI features a solid array of effective CGI and prosthetic demises that span nearly its entire running time. Spectral ghouls mercilessly taunt their prey, creating a ton of genuinely creepy moments… but before you think Sakaguchi has gotten too serious, know that when said characters are decapitated, their heads soar fifty feet in the air, propelled by an explosive geyser of blood. 

While played primarily for scares, the screenplay (penned by VERSUS director Ryûhei Kitamura) certainly knows when to lighten the mood. Of the plethora of things Sakaguchi and Kitamura excel at together, the best is their ability to continually keep things fun.

Featuring Kyôsuke Yabe (of CROWS ZERO) and RED SHADOWS’ Mitsuru Fukikoshi, YOROI literally rains down the blood as its titular Samurai zombie, who has an unbelievably difficult time keeping his head on straight, carves a bloody swath through all those unfortunate enough to cross its staggering path. And when the killing proves too much, more of the undead join in – including a very able-bodied zombie archer with a hideously rotting mug that only a mother could love.

Once again, with YOROI, actor/writer/directorTak Sakaguchi proves his talent for creating completely over-the-top cinema – and delivers a wonderful film that’s genuinely scary, sometimes (knowingly) snicker-inducing, and always entertaining.