I find myself a bit befuddled by 'Serpent's path.' It has all the narrative hallmarks of a thriller, but for most of its length is so direly plainspoken in its depiction of events that it feels more like a static portrait of crime. The picture is mostly bereft of music, notable sound is sparse, and it launches into the plot from the very beginning with no exposition to be had. What slight early turns there may be in the plot feel perfunctory and unexceptional; story beats come and go without leaving much of an impression, even as moments of dry, dark humor add spice.
It's not until the last quarter or so of its runtime that 'Serpent's path' becomes distinctly charged, but from that point on it's outstanding. In retrospect we see how the entirety of the preceding scenes were slowly building into the final minutes, helping to elevate them above the unremarkable tone initially conveyed and casting the entirety in a new light. True overall but especially nearer the end, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa arranges some fine, eye-catching shots. At last his vision bears fruit, conjured from Hiroshi Takahashi's screenplay, and it's flavorful. The climax, and the twist leading into the last scene, are fantastic.
I just wish it were more consistent. It's noteworthy that 'Serpent's path' suffers from poor lighting that obscures the events during the most crucial time - at the climax. Small, quiet scenes inserted throughout, not immediately relevant to the acts of revenge, do have a purpose - yet still feel scattershot, disconnected, and unclear. That the movie seems a little unconventional in its storytelling is admirable, at length making it more intriguing - but only after that same bent previously made our engagement with the feature more difficult.
While it's hard to feel fully invested early on, ultimately this is a film quite worth watching. It may well be that other viewers will find it easier to become immersed than I have, and I admit a repeat visit might resolve the problems I've recognized. Even with its flaws, when all is said and done the good handily outweighs the questionable. 'Serpent's path' feels like an offbeat crime thriller of a style all its own, and wherever one may be able to find this, it's an imperfect but rewarding view to seek out.
