original
Japanese title TOKAIDO OBAKE DOCHU [Journey Wioth Monsters on
Tokaido Road]
also known as YOKAI MONSTERS: ALONG WITH GHOSTS and ONE HUNDRED
GHOSTS III
This
is the third installment of the YOKAI MONSTERS trilogy,
preceded by ONE
HUNDRED MONSTERS and THE
GREAT MONSTER WAR. A little girl travels notorious Tokaido Road
(known as "Monster Alley" to the locals) when she goes off to
find her long-lost father. Most all the adults try to rob her or hurt
her in some way [with the lone exception of the Kojiro character who eventually
befriends her]. She also teams up with an orphan boy for the latter part
of her journey. Together, aided by a bunch of monsters, they defeat all
the bad guys.
Director
Yasuda was Daiei Studios' top director (responsible for MAJIN
MONSTER OF TERROR, DECAPITATION
ISLAND, ZATOICHI
MEETS THE ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN, etc) plus he had also helmed
the first entry in this series. He became forever linked to the Zatoichi
television series, directing and producing most of the episodes before
his death at age 72 in 1983. His assistant [and special effects] director
for this movie was Yoshiyuki Kuroda, the filmmaker who made the previous
MONSTER WAR entry plus the finale of the BABY CART
series WHITE
HEAVEN IN HELL.
A
Japanese film with English subtitles; widescreen uncut (78 min.);
for ALL REGIONS, playable on any American DVD machine.
Extras include selected trailers.
Mild
Violence but scary elements:
Parental guidance suggested