The forgotten, the overlooked, the misunderstood, and the plain bizarre — these are the types of film I investigate to bolster my film education. Join me in my quest to celebrate Video Obscura.
I really enjoy animated movies. One of my hobbies is seeking out animated movies for adults. You’re probably thinking I’m about to recommend an anime. Close. Path of Blood takes place in feudal Japan, but the film is not explicitly an anime (though it does feature many Japanese voice actors). What we have here is a “cut paper feature animation.” Ever seen the pilot of South Park? It’s that type of animation. Only Path of Blood is much more detailed. The amount of love and craft in every frame is astounding. It must have taken director Eric Power a lot of time and energy to put this film together and I think for that alone his work deserves to be seen.
The basic premise of Path of Blood: Samurai have been displaced as the culture in Japan changes, becoming wandering warriors known as ronin. Our mysterious main character seems as much in search of a purpose as he is a cure for a life gone stale. He joins a young man and another samurai in a quest through cursed land to find employment, death, or something more. The story is very simple but that’s okay, the real reason to watch this movie is the art style. And the absolutely over-the-top gore. The novelty of geysers of blood constructed from nothing but paper is definitely a huge selling point for this brief, hour long adventure.
If you’re in search of something truly unique, give Path of Blood a go. It’s currently streaming on Tubi and Night Flight.