From Audition to Ichi The Killer and 13 Assasins, prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike has regularly awed audiences around the world with his harrowing tale of violence and revenge. Now, more than a year after Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the heralded drama is at long last gearing up for its Stateside release with a sleek and stylish trailer, which you can check out below.
A respectful remake of Masaki Kobayashi film Harakiri, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai follows the quest of a mysterious samurai, who travels to the doorstep of a feudal lord and requests to commit ritual suicide in the man's courtyard. Suspicious of the stoic warrior, the lord unfurls the tragic story of an ill-fated ronin named Motome, who came to this place before with a similar request, but also with an ulterior motive. Unexpectedly, the story the lord hoped would scare off the samurai instead spurs him to unveil a shocking account of his own, one that will seal the fates of both men.
While Miike's name and the period piece's incredible design will be enough to attract art house fans to his latest Stateside release, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai ups the ante and its marketability by unleashing its sure-to-be seat-rattling action in 3D. Though I'm typically unimpressed by the gimmicky use of 3D, Miike's remarkable gift for brewing mood and creating magnificent cinematic spectacles, makes this drama one I'd gladly pay the lofty ticket price to see in full effect 3D.
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai will be available nationwide via VOD on July 18th, with a 3D limited theatrical release following on July 20th.
