Jigoku no Okite (1982)

"They carry hell in their hearts"

The Law of Hell (1982) was a television remake of the 1971 film Inn of Evil which also starred Nakadai Tatsuya. This time he played the calm innkeeper/restaurateur Ikuzo instead of the emotionally volatile Sadashichi. There weren’t any real good guys in this film, to quote Ikuzo, “There are as many corrupt officials as there are corrupt merchants.”

On a little island surrounded by reedy swamp, stands the restaurant, The Anrakutei, run by world weary Ikuzo and his lovely daughter, Omitsu. Strangers are not welcome at the smuggling hub. Regulars---Sadashichi, Yohei, Masaji, Genzo, Senkichi, and Yoshiko---are barely civilized but devoted to Ikuzo. One night, a stranger insists on drinking in the bar, keeping to his sake and table for most of the film. Another stranger, Tomi, collapses and is cared for by Omitsu. Aside from their rough and deadly reputations, officials tend to steer clear of the island as the smugglers actually supply powerful daimyos. When Tomi wakes up his story will stir the latent humanity in each of the men which could lead them into danger…or salvation.

The production values for this film were not the highest. Most of the action took place in or around the restaurant. Nakadai can always be counted on for a strong performance and his Ikuzo was restrained with nary a twitch from the actor’s expressive eyes. Ryu Daisuke gave a strong performance as Sadashichi, the troubled swordsman with a dark past. An almost unrecognizable Yakusho Koji played the TB ridden smuggler Genzo.

Perhaps because of the relatively short running time, it felt like parts of the story were consolidated. The smugglers enjoyed relative security and then were suddenly thrust on a precipice with no way out. To be sure, the smugglers were no Boy Scouts. They relied on illegal activities and murder to get by. The officials were shown to be just as deadly and corrupt. The Law of Hell would have sunk into the murky waters if not for Nakadai’s screen presence whether as a concerned father or a ruthless leader. If you enjoy this type of old movie/tv special or are a Nakadai Tatsuya fan, it might be worth checking out.

12 March 2025

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