The Hunted (1995)

Paul is on a business trips to Nagoya, as a computer-chip executive from New York, when he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman. Later, he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong ... See full summary »

Director:

J.F. Lawton

Writer:

J.F. Lawton

Stars:

Christopher Lambert, John Lone, Joan Chen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lambert	...	Paul Racine
John Lone	...	Kinjo
Joan Chen	...	Kirina
Yoshio Harada	...	Takeda Sensei
Yôko Shimada	...	Mieko Takeda
Mari Natsuki	...	Junko
Tak Kubota	...	Oshima
Masumi Okada	...	Lt. Wadakura
Tatsuya Irie	...	Hiryu
Michael Warren	...	Chase
Bart Anderson	...	John
James Saito	...	Nemura
Seth Sakai	...	Dr. Otozo Yamura
Toshishiro Obata	...	Ryuma
Ken Kensei	...	Sujin

Storyline

Paul is on a business trips to Nagoya, as a computer-chip executive from New York, when he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman. Later, he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, inadvertently interrupting an assassination by a feared Ninja-cult. As he is now the only man to have seen the face of the cult's warrior-leader and lived, he soon realizes that he is facing a markedly foreshortened life-expectancy. Teaming up with a friendly samurai couple, on a two-centuries-old blood-feud with the Ninja, he struggles to survive. Finally, recuperating on an island-fortress, he learns swordsmanship, and perhaps, a little about courage, honor, love, and loyalty. The requisite final confrontation is rife with bloody swordplay and spectacular martial-arts action sequences.

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Plot Keywords:

ninja | samurai | assassin | bullet train | ninja clan | 

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Taglines:

One night of passion. Centuries of hate. the battle has begun

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody ninja violence and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

24 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Perseguido

Filming Locations:

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,723,495, 26 February 1995, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$6,607,652

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Davis Entertainment,Bregman/Baer Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The swords used by the Makato are known as Ninjato or Shinobigatana. It is widely debated by practitioners of Ninjitsu and Japanese historians if the swords were even used during the history of the Ninja, as there is little to no documentation or relics from the era. The first known and documented appearance of these swords was in Japan in 1964 when the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in Iga-Ueno, Japan was established, and where replicas of these swords were first displayed and remain to this day. That same year, the swords appeared in "Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizo" and "Shinobi no Mono Zoku Kirigakure Saizo", the 4th and 5th entries in the famed Japanese period ninja movie series "Shinobi no Mono", released in theaters in Japan.

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Goofs

While Takeda is speaking with Oshima about making a new sword, a Stellar's Jay can be heard in the background. Stellar's Jays are a bird found in North America, and are not found in Japan.

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Quotes

[Paul Racine, still injured, is carrying two buckets of coal]
Racine: [puffing] I wish I knew Japanese so I could tell this guy, I am not a donkey.

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Crazy Credits

Pre-credits title: "One who is a samurai must before all things keep constantly in mind, by day & by night ... the fact that he has to die."

• Daidoji Yuzan

16th century

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Alternate Versions

The 1996 UK video version was cut by 12 secs to remove all footage of Japanese throwing stars. The cuts were waived in 2001.

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Connections

Referenced in Your Studio and You (1995)

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Soundtracks

Tokyo Blues
Written and Performed by George Lawton

User Reviews

Enjoyable trash without too much flair

Businessman Paul Racine is in Japan for work when he is picked up by an attractive young woman. He goes back to her flat but leaves early. Going back after second thoughts Racine witnesses her being killed by the mysterious ninja assassin Kinjo. He survives Kinjo's ninjas but is badly hurt. In hospital he is approached by Takeda and his wife, who offer him protection as everyone else who has seen Kinjo face has been killed. After a ninja attack on his hospital Racine goes with them and they prepare for a final showdown.

I've seen this film twice now. This second time I watched it because I wanted to review it but couldn't remember it clearly enough to be fair on it. The second viewing reminded why it had faded in my mind – it is trashy yet enjoyable fun. The plot is poor (laughable parts and inconsistencies) but it is short, has energy and requires no thought. The idea that this businessman would survive several ninja attacks when training samurai are easily killed is silly. Worse still is the idea (no matter how justified) that Racine could even temporarily match any of these men after only a few basic lessons in how to hold a sword! However it is quite exciting if you're in the mood. The high point is probably a train journey that is exciting simply because it is shockingly violent in it's intent. The addition of some comic relief in the final third (the old swordmaker) helps the film along to the conclusion.

Although it is not great, it is slightly refreshing to see a film of this genre without tonnes of flashy wire work or moves (having just suffered Bulletproof Monk and Cradle 2 The Grave I was glad of the basic fights). Little inconsistencies spoil it slightly – in one scene Racine is saved when a samurai sword jams in a wooden door, however later the same swords easily cuts though thick wooden pillars. Those looking for something trashy and slightly exciting should be pleased I think.

Lambert is not great in the lead and the film suffers form his character being the focal point. He mumbles his way through his lines (I think he thinks it makes him tough and mysterious) and his transformation from green businessman to ninja warrior is of no value. On the flip side of this is Yoshio Harada. Harada gives a really cool performance – he is strong and driven with an air of mystery, the script even makes him a little dark and complex too! The film would have been better if it had gradually swung the films focus from Racine to Harada's Takeda. Lone is OK as Kinjo but is not as meaty a role as Takeda. Considering the quality of the film I was watching I thought Harada did very well.

Overall I was ready for a trashy ninja movie with low value but reasonably entertaining – and that's what I got. Anyone looking for more than that should look elsewhere, but if you're in the mood this forgettable ninja movie will pass 90 minutes without being disappointing.