Not for the faint of heart, Blade of the Immortal is a gorgeous, balletic blood opera set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.

Director Takashi Miike’s 100th feature film finds Manji (Kimura), a disgraced swordsman who has been cursed with immortality, assisting Rin (Sugisaki), a young woman with an appetite for revenge, in the hopes of finding his own salvation. Accosted at every turn by bandits, evil samurai and assorted ne’er-do-wells, Manji and Rin carve a swathe through their opponents in a series of the stylishly choreographed and superbly shot fight scenes that have become Miike’s trademark.

Over 100 films in just 26 years, Miike has honed his talent for spilling blood on the silver screen, and provides us with a highly entertaining, darkly funny and surprisingly moving film that is equal parts Kill Bill and Yojimbo. Don’t miss this film if you enjoy gripping tales of revenge and classic samurai action with a supernatural bent.