Throne of Blood

Throne of Blood

Year: 1957

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Akira Kurosawa

HistoryDrama

Returning to their lord’s castle, samurai Washizu and his retainer Miki are intercepted by a spirit that predicts futures. When the first part of the prophecy is fulfilled, Washizu’s wife Asaji urges him to speed the rest by murdering the lord and seizing his position. Kurosawa’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is one of his most celebrated films.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Throne of Blood (1957)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Throne of Blood (1957). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Feudal Japan

Set in a feudal, samurai-era world where lords rule from castles and loyalty is a precarious currency. Prophecies and court intrigue drive characters to ruthless acts, highlighting a society structured around power, honor, and perilous ambition.

Location

Spider's Web Forest, Spider's Web Castle, Tsuzuki's Estate

The action unfolds in the dense, foreboding Spider's Web Forest surrounding a central castle. The Spider's Web Castle serves as the seat of lordship where power is exercised and paranoia festers. Tsuzuki's estate functions as the political hub where alliances are made and broken, contrasting with the wild, ominous forest that seems to watch the court.

🌳 Forest 🏰 Castle 🗺️ Feudal Japan

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:26

Main Characters – Throne of Blood (1957)

Meet the key characters of Throne of Blood (1957), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Washizu (Toshirô Mifune)

A formidable samurai lord whose ascent to power is fueled by ambition and tempered by growing guilt. He embraces the prophetic visions and lets fear govern his decisions, accelerating a tragic spiral of violence and paranoia.

🎭 Drama 🗡️ Ambition

Asaji Washizu (Isuzu Yamada)

Washizu's calculating wife, who uses the prophecy to steer events toward murder and political advantage. Cool under pressure, she enacts schemes that deepen mistrust and push the couple toward ruin.

🎭 Drama 🧠 Manipulation

Tsuzuki

The local lord whose murder ignites the cascade of treachery and fear within the castle. His death exposes the fragility of loyalty and the peril of power struggles in a feudal system.

🏰 Power 🕊️ Trust

Miki (Yoshiaki Miki)

A respected general whose loyalty and future are threatened by the prophetic turns of events. His presence represents the personal stakes behind the political intrigue and the danger of prophecy dictating his fate.

🗡️ Betrayal 👨‍👦 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:26

Major Themes – Throne of Blood (1957)

Explore the central themes of Throne of Blood (1957), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔮 Prophecy

A supernatural foretelling drives the plot, guiding Washizu and Asaji toward actions that seal their fate. The spirit's predictions blur the line between fate and choice, making characters pursue inevitable outcomes.

🗡️ Betrayal

Trust frays as friends become rivals and spouses manipulate others to secure power. The murder of Tsuzuki and the looming threat to Miki's lineage reveal how personal gain corrupts loyalties.

🌲 Nature's Retribution

The forest itself becomes a looming force, its trees symbolizing an unseen judgment rising against tyranny. The environment mirrors the characters' moral descent and catalyzes the climactic downfall.

👑 Power

Ambition to command drives the characters toward drastic, destabilizing choices. The quest for lordship exposes the fragility of rule and how quickly acquired power erodes under pressure.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:26

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Explore Movie Threads

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 tragic ambition and moral decay like Throne of Blood

Stories where a prophecy or ambition unfolds as an inescapable curse.If you liked the fatalistic spiral in Throne of Blood, you'll find similar themes in these movies. This thread gathers films centered on tragic ambition, where characters are undone by their own choices amidst supernatural pressures or ruthless political landscapes, all leading to bleak and powerful conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a classic tragedy arc, often triggered by a supernatural prophecy or a sudden opportunity for power. The protagonist, initially honorable or relatable, is pushed by ambition and external forces into betrayal and murder. Each subsequent act is a desperate attempt to secure their ill-gotten gains, resulting in paranoia, isolation, and ultimate destruction.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared exploration of corrupted ambition and the psychological toll of evil deeds. They possess a dark, oppressive tone, a steady pacing that builds towards an inevitable catastrophe, and leave a heavy emotional impact through their bleak endings and profound themes of fate.

Movies with a haunting supernatural dread like Throne of Blood

Films where a haunting prophecy or curse creates a claustrophobic sense of doom.For viewers who appreciated the ominous, supernatural-fueled atmosphere of Throne of Blood, this collection features similar films. Discover stories where prophecies, curses, or spirits dictate a terrifying and unavoidable fate for the characters, creating a deeply haunting and psychologically intense viewing experience.

supernaturalominousfatalisticclaustrophobichauntingdreadpsychological horrorinescapable fate

Narrative Summary

The narrative is driven by a supernatural encounter—a prophecy, a curse, or a spirit—that sets the rules of the story. Characters either try to avert or fulfill this destiny, but their actions only tighten the trap. The focus is on the psychological unraveling and the growing, oppressive feeling that external, malevolent forces are in control.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core vibe defined by supernatural fatalism and a pervasive sense of dread. They are united by a dark tone, a steady, deliberate pacing that allows the atmosphere to suffocate the viewer, and a high intensity born from psychological horror and the characters' futile struggle against their fate.

Unlock the Full Story of Throne of Blood

Don't stop at just watching — explore Throne of Blood 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 Throne of Blood is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Throne of Blood Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Throne of Blood, 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.

Throne of Blood Summary

Throne of Blood Timeline

Track the full timeline of Throne of Blood with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Throne of Blood Timeline

Throne of Blood Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Throne of Blood that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Throne of Blood Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Throne of Blood

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Throne of Blood: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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