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The Samurai

Play trailer Poster for The Samurai 2014 1h 20m Fantasy Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Jakob, a young policeman from a remote village, has his world unhinged when a stranger in a dress emerges from the forest and begins killing villagers with a sword.

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The Samurai

Critics Reviews

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Tasha Robinson The Dissolve 06/08/2015
3.5/5
It's so evocative on an instinctive level that its panting excitement overwhelms the sense of questions unanswered, and often unasked. Go to Full Review
Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast 09/08/2021
3/5
A surreal exploration into the mind of a man questioning his gender identity, Der Samurai has style to spare. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast 09/01/2021
Till Kleinert's feature directorial debut is surreal, gorgeous and complicated. Go in prepared to let it wash over you, then expect to have long, nuanced conversations afterwards. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/06/2020
3.0/4.0
It would be nearly impossible to not admire the world that Kleinert creates that exists somewhere between dream and fantasy. Go to Full Review
Joey Keogh Wicked Horror 09/26/2019
8/10
Der Samurai asks more questions than it answers, and is stronger for it. Go to Full Review
Amanda Waltz The Film Stage 06/06/2016
A-
Der Samurai is an unusual little gem of a film that excites with its own offbeat blend of horror, suspense, and visual elegance. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Oaklee D @ODie63 Aug 4 As haunting as it is horrifying. This German horror film is an absolute gem and a must see for fans of the genre. See more 10/26/2021 Jakob is a policeman in a village deep in the woods. Nothing ever happens, but then a wolf shows up, but it's really a transvestite samurai and if you can accept that plot twist, you're pretty much ready for whatever happens next. The townspeople see Jakob as weak because he's so polite, mild and young, an outsider in their home and the bikers that regularly take advantage of the village think even less of him. So Jacob sits at home and makes his miniature village and then sometimes, he takes bloody meat into the woods to give the wolf a meal and he feels a bond growing. But is the wolf real? Is the samurai the wolf? Is Jakob supposed to watch, help or stop the wolf? Are they all parts of Jakob's brain or are they all real? And most importantly, is this a slasher or a giallo? Till Kleinert hasn't made a movie since this. I don't know if he ever has to again, because this is nearly perfect the first time out. But I sure hope he does. See more 08/23/2015 A briskly-riveting schlock horror that brims with visual panache and offbeat surrealism. It's refreshing to see a gutsy genre piece whose narrative trajectory goes full-on metaphysical. For sure, you won't be counting time but the bodies, or, ahem, heads. See more 07/13/2015 It is impossible to deny Till Kleinert's reworking of the werewolf folk tale holds a great deal of power. Even though it sometimes seems to clunk when it should probably stalk, this German experimental film leaves a strong impression. A gentle, kind and lonely cop discovers his the wolf who has been causing minor problems in his village is something far more sinister. The innocent girl in a red cape has been replaced by a lonely young cop. The wolf takes another form as well. It is not exactly a "werewolf" but it seems to be even more menacing and deadly. It seems to be a strange sort of chase, hunt and dance. To Kleinert's credit, he keeps the entire film in a state that offers no easy understanding. In fact, as the credits begin to roll you're left wondering exactly what it is you just saw. Too silly to be taken seriously -- yet far to smart to forget. Somehow this odd film leaves a very potent shadow. See more 07/08/2015 This movie is the worst one I've ever seen. Five stars?! Are you crazy? Just a boring gay-metaphor... katana vs erection... c'mon... See more 07/02/2015 Hacía tiempo que no veía una película tan rara ; es una locura de guión pero es admirable como logra combinar diferentes temas como violencia , fantasía y homosexualidad . See more Read all reviews
The Samurai

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jakob, a young policeman from a remote village, has his world unhinged when a stranger in a dress emerges from the forest and begins killing villagers with a sword.
Director
Till Kleinert
Producer
Gerhard Hahn, Till Kleinert, Anna de Paoli, Linus de Paoli
Screenwriter
Till Kleinert
Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
German
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 2, 2016
Runtime
1h 20m
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