Year: 1980
Runtime: 85 mins
Language: English
Directors: Robert Houston, Kenji Misumi
After a paranoid, senile shogun dispatches his ninjas to eliminate a loyal samurai, the assassins fail but murder the samurai’s wife. Vowing revenge, the grieving warrior roams the countryside with his toddler son, wielding his sword to behead anyone who stands in his path.
Get a spoiler-free look at Shogun Assassin (1980) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a fragmented Japan ruled by a paranoid, senile shogun, power is exercised through whispered orders and shadowy assassins who glide unseen across the countryside. The realm feels suffocating, a place where loyalty can be erased with a single blade and the very air trembles with the threat of sudden violence. The shogun’s whims become law, and the ever‑watchful eyes of his ninja network turn every village into a potential battlefield.
Ogami Itto is a samurai whose reputation for unwavering devotion once earned him the shogunate’s most feared title. When the shogun’s covert strike claims the life of his beloved wife, the loss ignites a raw, relentless fury within him. Stripped of the peace that once defined his existence, he abandons the disciplined life of a warrior and embraces a darker path—one that promises retribution for the atrocity committed in his name.
Alongside his grief walks his infant son, Daigorō, a fragile reminder of what remains to protect and what he has already lost. The child rides clutched to his father’s back, his presence turning each step into a delicate balance between vengeance and the instinct to shield innocence. Their bond creates a stark contrast: the brutal efficiency of a sword‑wielding father and the tender vulnerability of a boy who knows only the rhythm of his father’s heartbeat and the weight of a world that seems intent on crushing them both.
The film’s tone is unflinching and visceral, bathing the landscape in muted ochres and blood‑red horizons. Every clash of steel echoes with the echo of a broken promise, while the endless road ahead offers no sanctuary—just the promise that the path of an avenger, accompanied by a child, will be as relentless as the wind that sweeps the shogunate’s quiet plains.
Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 17:41
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories of obsessed protagonists on a violent and morally dark path to vengeance.Discover movies similar to Shogun Assassin, where a single-minded quest for revenge drives a brutal and relentless narrative. These films share a dark, unforgiving tone, high-intensity action, and a heavy emotional core, perfect for viewers who appreciate stories of obsessive vengeance and fatalistic outcomes.
Narratives in this thread are typically linear and driven by a singular goal: revenge for a grave personal wrong. The story structure is a series of violent confrontations leading toward a final, often bittersweet or bleak, confrontation. Character development focuses on the protagonist's descent into a violent obsession, frequently at a great personal cost.
Movies are grouped here because they share a core premise of vengeance as the central plot engine, executed with a dark tone and high intensity. They evoke a similar feeling of grim determination and fatalistic momentum, where the cycle of violence is the primary focus and emotional driver.
Heart-wrenching stories of a parent protecting their child in a brutal, unforgiving environment.If you liked the father-son dynamic in Shogun Assassin, explore these movies about parents protecting their children in brutal worlds. These stories feature intense survival scenarios, heavy emotional weight, and themes of sacrifice, offering a similar mix of relentless action and poignant character bonds.
The narrative pattern follows a protector and their vulnerable charge on a perilous journey. Conflict arises from external threats that constantly test the parent’s resolve and morality. The emotional journey revolves around the bond between parent and child, often questioning the cost of survival and the legacy of violence being passed on.
These films are united by their central focus on the parent-child relationship under duress. They share a melancholic, often bittersweet tone, high stakes for survival, and a heavy emotional weight that comes from the juxtaposition of innocence with a violent world.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Shogun Assassin in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Shogun Assassin is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Shogun Assassin, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Shogun Assassin with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Shogun Assassin. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Shogun Assassin: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Shogun Assassin that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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