Blood of Revenge: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1965
Director: Tai Katô
Writers: Gohei Kamiya, Akira Murao, Norifumi Suzuki
Cast: Kôji Tsuruta, Sumiko Fuji, Tetsurô Tanba, Yutaro Nomura, Tôru Abe, Hiromi Fujiyama, Minoru Ôki, Masahiko Tsugawa, Kanjûrô Arashi

Release Date: January 26th, 2026 (UK), January 26th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 36 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Osaka, 1907. The upstart Hoshino gang tries to assassinate the boss of the Kiyatatsu syndicate, who are in charge of the construction business. The attempt fails but sets in motion a spiral of violence, as the Hoshino sabotage building sites and kill a junior Kiyatatsu member. When the old boss dies of his wounds, senior lieutenant Kikuchi (Koji Tsuruta, Big Time Gambling Boss) decides to take on the Hoshino gang alone." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Blood of Revenge was transferred in high definition by Toei Co. Ltd. and supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file."

Blood of Revenge comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.1 GB

Feature: 25.4 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and compression are solid, contrast and black levels are strong throughout, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape. Dialogue comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay by Mark Schilling titled Junko Fuji: Flower and Storm (14 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a short documentary film by Tai Kato titled Lice Are Scary (14 minutes 1 second, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 32-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Passion Plays in a Brave New World written by Earl Jackson, an archival review titled Third Generation Succession written by Yoji Ishizuka, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Tai Katô directed Blood of Revenge. He’s known for The Tale of Oiwa's Ghost, Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza, Eighteen Years in Prison, I, the Executioner, By a Man's Face Shall You Know Him, and Beast in the Shadows.

A senior lieutenant of the Kiyatatsu syndicate desires to maintain a clean and responsible business reputation for his clan after their boss dies from his wounds suffered from an assassination attempt. He can only achieve this goal by assuming control of the Kiyatatsu syndicate while having the boss's son form a new construction company free of any criminal underworld connections. Although he does his best to stay out of the fray, he’s forced to intervene when a rival gang attacks his deceased boss’s son’s new company.

Blood of Revenge is a character-driven film, where most of the tension comes from the decisions characters make instead of violent set pieces. Where there are those who are intent on letting their violent impulses settle disputes, Asajiro, a senior lieutenant of the Kiyatatsu syndicate, understands the value of controlling one’s emotions. Opposite of him is Hauro, the boss's impulsive son whose first thought is violent revenge when he learns of the attempt on his father's life. The rival Hoshino clan knows that pressuring Hauro is their best way to achieve their goal, since Asajiro does not push easily into confrontation.

The cast delivers outstanding performances, particularly Kôji Tsuruta as the Japan Organized Crime Boss in his role as Asajiro. While the other characters express their emotions openly, he remains composed and unflappable, regardless of the circumstances. Other performances of note are Hiromi Fujiyama in the role of Senkichi, a gun-toting wandering yakuza who befriends Asajiro, and Sumiko Fuji (The Valiant Red Peony) in the role of a prostitute named Hatsue, who falls in love with Asajiro after an act of kindness from him.

While much of the carnage occurs in the latter half of the film, especially during a bloody finale, this does not mean that there is a lack of conflict in the earlier sections. That said, the first half of the film is exposition-heavy, and this opening section does a superb job fleshing out characters. Tai Katô’s direction is exemplary; he does a phenomenal job creating tension and building upon it. Ultimately, for Tai Katô’s first foray into ninkyo eiga, he delivers a film that has his cinematic flourishes while maintaining all of this genre's core elements.

Blood of Revenge gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer