Death Shadows (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1986, Death Shadows is an action film directed by Hideo Gosha, running about 115 minutes. “Punish the wicked, but stay in the dark.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Three men sentenced to death are spared and changed into “shadows executioners”, a group of ruthless ninja working for mysterious high ranking officials. During their investigation on some illegal business, one of them, called “Yazuke the Viper”, finds his abandoned daughter, Ocho, who has now become a mistress of Denzo, a smuggler. After Yazuke’s death, Ocho is also recruited as a “shadows executioner”, with the task of completing her father’s mission.
Who’s in it. Death Shadows stars Mariko Ishihara as Ocho / Her Mother, Masanori Sera as Kanoya, Mari Natsuki as Oren and Takuzō Kawatani as Yasuke, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Death Shadows has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Death Shadows page.
If you liked it. Fans of Death Shadows tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Death Shadows (1986)?
- In US, Death Shadows is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Death Shadows worth watching?
- Death Shadows holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Death Shadows?
- Death Shadows stars Mariko Ishihara, Masanori Sera, Mari Natsuki, Takuzō Kawatani and Takeo Chii.
- When was Death Shadows released?
- Death Shadows was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 115 minutes.