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You can stream Shogun Assassin (1980) on Criterion Channel with a subscription.

A Shogun who grew paranoid as he became senile sent his ninjas to kill his samurai. They failed but did kill the samurai’s wife. The samurai swore to avenge the death of his wife and roams the countryside with his toddler son in search of vengeance.

A lone swordsman carries his toddler son across a landscape of relentless assassins to settle a blood debt. This kinetic period piece trades slow pacing for visceral, unrelenting combat sequences.

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