Death Trance (Japanese: デス・トランス) is a 2005 Japanese action/fantasy film based on the manga of the same name by Kana Takeuchi.[1] It stars Tak Sakaguchi of Versus fame, alongside Kentaro Seagal (son of actor Steven Seagal) and Takamasa Suga. The film is the directorial debut of Yuji Shimomura, best known for his work as an action director, stuntman, and frequent collaborator of Ryuhei Kitamura. The film's soundtrack features several tracks by the rock band Dir en grey.

Death Trance
Poster for Death Trance
Directed byYuji Shimomura
Written bySeiji Chiba
Shinichi Fujita
Produced byYoshinori Chiba
StarringTak Sakaguchi
Kentaro Seagal
Takamasa Suga
Music byRui Ogawa
Dir en grey
Distributed byTokyo Shock
Release date
  • May 12, 2005 (2005-05-12)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Plot edit

In an unknown place at an unknown time, a swordsman named Grave (Sakaguchi) yearns for the ultimate battle. Legend tells of a black coffin kept at the Tougan Temple which has the power to grant any man's deepest desire. Hoping to utilize the coffin's ability to fulfill his wish, Grave infiltrates the temple and steals it. Accompanied by a mysterious young girl (Asada), Grave travels across the land towards a desert oasis, a place the tales indicate as being linked to the coffin's power.

Contrary to the popular legend, the Tougan monks believe that the coffin holds the Goddess of Destruction, who was banished from Heaven for trying to destroy the world, and whose release will bring about the apocalypse. Fearing the implications of Grave's actions, the monks dispatch Ryuen (Suga) to retrieve the coffin and prevent it from being opened. But many other forces are also searching for Grave and his prize, including treasure hunter Sid (Seagal), and an all-out free-for-all ensues as they all struggle to discover the secret power of the coffin.

Cast edit

  • Tak Sakaguchi - Grave
  • Takamasa Suga - Ryuen
  • Kentaro Seagal - Sid
  • Yuhki Takeuchi - Yuri
  • Ben Hiura - Archbishop
  • Honoka Asada - Girl
  • Yoko Fujita - Goddess of destruction
  • Osamu Takahashi - Master
  • Chuck Johnson - Muscleman
  • Kei Hasegawa - Capoeira User
  • Masumi Shirai - Sword-wielding sister (left)
  • Mie Nakao - Sword-wielding sister (right)
  • Masaki Inatome - Ninja A / Flying Vampire 01
  • Hitoshi Fukushima - Ninja B
  • Naohiro Kawamoto - Flying Vampire 02
  • Hiroko Yashiki - Fallen Angel
  • Kentaro Shimazu - Mountain Bandit A
  • Shuhei - Bandit Rene
  • Shuya Yoshimoto - Bandit Leo
  • Masaki Suzumura - Bandit Gogh
  • Bob Suzuki - Bandit Joha
  • Daijiro Tsuruoka - Bandit Dali

References edit

  1. ^ David, Alexander Von; Shimomura, Yûji (27 June 2006), Death Trance, retrieved 2021-09-11

External links edit