[Ah, you clever lads, you figured it out. Ambush At Blood Trail Gate doesn't actually exist ... what follows is really a viral video for indie comedy White On Rice, Blood Trail Gate being a fictional film that the lead character of WoR has a bit part in and watches early on in WoR. That really is Bruce Campbell, though.
Okay, so it features just the voice of Bruce as opposed to all of him but Bruce is still Bruce whether in voice or body. And though I tend to be generally opposed to English language dubbing of foreign films, I think I can make an exception in this case. Because, frankly, if you can't enjoy Mr. Campbell hamming it up on the voice track of a cult Japanese samurai splatter film then, well, you're just not human. The film is Ambush At Blood Trail Gate, a 1987 underground title by Naohiro Takita recently rediscovered by new startup outfit Shinobi Splat with picture intact but vocal track destroyed. They gave the visuals a polish up and enlisted a new English voice cast to restore the audio end with Campbell front and center.
Young rebellious samurai Muramoto (voiced by Bruce Campbell) spends his days drinking sake and womanizing in a small Edo-era village. However, when he crosses the line with the Clan Leader’s daughter, the consequences are dire. The action builds to a thrilling climax at the legendary Blood Trail Gate.
Take a look below the break for the trailer and the complete press release.
SHINOBI SPLAT! ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO LOST CULT CLASSIC “AMBUSH AT BLOOD TRAIL GATE.”
BRUCE CAMPBELL (THE EVIL DEAD, SPIDER-MAN 3) TOPS NEW VOICE CAST.
LOS ANGELES, CA, July 21, 2009- Newly formed home video shingle Shinobi Splat! Entertainment has announced its first acquisition in Ambush at Blood Trail Gate, the 1987 cult film directed by Naohiro Takita. The film will premiere on DVD and Blu-Ray disc on October 13th, 2009. Ambush at Blood Trail Gate is priced to own at $24.95 MSRP for the DVD and $29.95 for Blu-Ray.
The low budget chanbara (samurai swordplay) film was long thought to be lost after a handful of underground festival screenings, but was discovered by Shinobi Splat! topper Jeff Stephens in a Tokyo vault during his time as an exchange student. Over the next several years, Stephens worked to win the trust of director Takita and acquire distribution rights to the long unseen picture.
Stephens remarked, “We are so thrilled to have Ambush as the flagship release for our company. The film pretty much embodies everything that Shinobi Splat! looks for in great cult cinema. It’s like Miike meets Russ Meyer.”
Complicating the release was the poor state of the films original soundtrack. Though the music and effects tracks were recoverable, the original Japanese language dialogue was lost. With Takita’s blessing, Stephens set about recording a new English-language track with cult favorite Bruce Campbell (Bubba Ho-Tep, Army of Darkness) providing the voice of the lead character.
Campbell sparked to the picture immediately. “Material like Ambush at Blood Trail Gate doesn’t come across my desk very often so I knew I had to pounce on it. I told my agent, ‘lose this gig and you’re out of here.’ I am really proud of the finished product and look forward to a wide release,” said the legendary actor in a statement.
For director Takita, the long delayed release of his only feature film could mark the beginning of the most remarkable comeback in film history. After directing Ambush, Takita left the film business for a successful career in banking. He recently returned to film as an actor in commercials and indie films.
SYNOPSIS:
Young rebellious samurai Muramoto (voiced by Bruce Campbell) spends his days drinking sake and womanizing in a small Edo-era village. However, when he crosses the line with the Clan Leader’s daughter, the consequences are dire. The action builds to a thrilling climax at the legendary Blood Trail Gate.
DVD Extra Features include widescreen transfer, 5.1 Surround Sound, Q and A with director Naohiro Takita and voice actor Bruce Campbell, and a documentary on the restoration of the film.
ABOUT SHINOBI SPLAT! ENTERTAINMENT:
Shinobi Splat! is a boutique DVD and Blu-Ray label that brings the best in Asian cult cinema to American audiences. Newly formed in 2009 by Japanese film expert Jeffrey Stephens, Shinobi Splat! distributes directly to virtually all major retailers. The label plans 8-10 specialty releases per year.