A mix of sustained violence, Japanese history, and audacious filmmaking, Crazy Samurai 400 vs 1 is a must-see for fans of action cinema and a curiosity for others.
The plot sees an ambush being set for the Samurai Miyamoto Musachi (Tak Sakaguchi), who is set to duel with the head of the Yoshioka clan in retaliation for the murder of their master. Musachi mounts a sneak attack, however, and what follows is a bloody and unrelenting battle between one man and an army of mercenaries.
Crazy Samurai 400 vs 1 (which previously went by the simpler title Crazy Samurai Musachi) doesn’t depend on a story to drive the film – other than the opening and closing sections, a narrative isn’t needed. What we’re presented with is a 77-minute single take of Musachi attempting to fend off his numerous attackers. At times, it’s like being an observer to a video game. Unrelentingly repetitive, one ends up just marvelling at the choreography of violence. As several cameramen pass the lens between each other, the ballet of slashing, clashing swords, and slaughter continues, with only a few moments in which the main character manages to hide, take a swig of water, and catch his breath. It’s an impressive feat of filmmaking and even more commendable that actor Tak Sakaguchi gets through the carnage so beautifully.
While we applaud both the balls and stamina of the film crew, there are a few times when the shadow of the camera is visible in the harsh Japanese sunlight. The gimmick of the long take comes at the expense of story and character development, although even though we’re introduced to the Yoshioka clan in the opening ten minutes, we’re certainly rooting for the outnumbered warrior throughout.
Director Yûji Shimomura and his team must be commended for their achievement, and with such restrictions in place on filming, there’s no high wire gymnastics on show during the battle. This could be tiresome for many viewers, but it’s a movie you should see at least once if you’re interested at all in pushing the boundaries of filmmaking as a medium.
