Death Trance
Encyclopedia
Death Trance is a 2005 Japanese
action
/fantasy film
directed by Yuji Shimomura, the action director for Versus
and Devil May Cry 3. It stars Tak Sakaguchi of Versus fame as the anti-hero with co-stars Kentaro Seagal (the son of Steven Seagal
in his action film debut) and Takamasa Suga.
The film is the directorial debut of Shimomura, and similarities can be seen between it and Ryuhei Kitamura's Versus. Both films, among other things, take place primarily in a forest
, both involve a dark sword bearing antihero played by Tak Sakaguchi battling a supernatural being. The soundtrack features songs by the rock band Dir en grey
.
. A young monk from the Tougan Temple (Takamasa Suga) is sent to retrieve the coffin and prevent it from being opened. But many other forces are also searching for Grave and his prize (both human and not) and an all-out free-for-all ensues as they all struggle to discover the secret power of the coffin.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
/fantasy film
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
directed by Yuji Shimomura, the action director for Versus
Versus (film)
is a 2000 Japanese action/horror film directed by Ryuhei Kitamura.-Synopsis:After escaping from police custody, Prisoner KSC2-303 and a fellow escapee join with a group of mobsters in a forest that is one of the 666 portals that act as a connection between this world and the next, called "The...
and Devil May Cry 3. It stars Tak Sakaguchi of Versus fame as the anti-hero with co-stars Kentaro Seagal (the son of Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
in his action film debut) and Takamasa Suga.
The film is the directorial debut of Shimomura, and similarities can be seen between it and Ryuhei Kitamura's Versus. Both films, among other things, take place primarily in a forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, both involve a dark sword bearing antihero played by Tak Sakaguchi battling a supernatural being. The soundtrack features songs by the rock band Dir en grey
Dir en grey
Dir En Grey is a Japanese metal band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2011, they have recorded eight full-length records...
.
Synopsis
In an unknown place and unknown time, a master swordsman by the name of Grave (Tak Sakaguchi) searches for the ultimate battle. After hearing tales of a mysterious coffin kept and guarded at the Tougan Temple he decides to steal it. Legend has it that if taken to a specific spot in the desert, the coffin will grant any man's deepest desire. However, others say that inside the coffin rests the Goddess of Destruction who was banished from Heaven for trying to destroy the world and that releasing her will bring about the ApocalypseApocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
. A young monk from the Tougan Temple (Takamasa Suga) is sent to retrieve the coffin and prevent it from being opened. But many other forces are also searching for Grave and his prize (both human and not) and an all-out free-for-all ensues as they all struggle to discover the secret power of the coffin.
Cast
- Tak SakaguchiTak Sakaguchiis a Japanese actor, director, fight choreorapher, and stuntman. He is best known for his lead role in Ryuhei Kitamura's cult film, Versus. Sakaguchi is a talented martial artist, and as such, stars in films featuring copious fight scenes and performs all of his own stunts. He is known to be...
- Grave / Coffin Man - Honoka Asada - Girl
- Yôko Fujita - Goddess of destruction
- Ben Hiura - Archbishop
- Chuck Johnson - Muscleman
- Mela Lee - Girl
- Kentaro Seagal - Sid
- Takamasa Suga - Ryuen
- Osamu Takahashi - Master
- Yûki Takeuchi - Yuri
- Hiroko Yashiki