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Continuing to share more of the best in action and martial arts short films, with even a few other genres thrown in, I stumbled upon what could be the coolest premise for a Samurai infused martial arts epic which lasts only 15 plus minutes. The short is called Kodama from cinematographer and indie filmmaker Brian M Tang and it literally kicks a whole lot of ass in its short running time and features some ambitious visuals combined with creative storytelling fused with pulse pounding, gravity defying, slicing and dicing action design that equals or surpasses a lot that is seen on the big screen or streaming. The short is a few years old as it hit in 2023 so apologies to my tardiness on this one as, like I said, I found this as it popped up on my YouTube feed.
The premise for Kodama is just as bad ass and creative as the film itself as it tells the story of an elite group of modern-day samurai who combine ancient tradition with lethal modern day SWAT tactics. You heard me right. These Samurai are not just that but an elite group of tier one ass kickers who must embark on a mission to save fellow Samurai from an ancient evil that is currently terrorizing a spirt world. There are special doors that lead tom this otherworld and the samurai SWAT team must battle the ultimate enemy to save their own and prevent the evil from overflowing into our world.
What transpires is some of the best samurai infused action sequences ever with blinding speed and precision combining lightning quick swordplay with ferocious firepower. The action is unrelenting and savagely detailed with the actors going all in with the stunt work and choreography. It’s simply put, 15 minutes of everything genre fans could want from a premise and its execution on film.
Check out the full movie below!
The cast for Kodama includes Brandon Soo Hoo as Arthur, Chris Tashima as Hiro, Justin Chien as Justin, Alexander Lee as a young Authur, and Bruce Inaba as Fox Spirit. Tang directs from a script that he also penned with Jay Kwon serving as stunt coordinator who crafted the sick action on display. Kwon is most noted for giving his skills to Marvel TV productions like The Punisher, Iron Fist and the MCU’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. A full crew list is available here: Modern samurai on a rescue mission | Kodama.
The official synopsis reads: After a young Arthur stumbles into the spirit world, Hiro, his father, and captain of an elite SWAT Samurai team, rescues him from a terrifying Yokai Spirit, solidifying Arthur’s unrealistic admiration for his savior.
Kodama is definitely and without question an action short film that deserves the full-length feature treatment to fully and respectively flesh out this world that Tang has created. It truly enhances Japanese folklore and brings it into modern day theatrics with bravado, and an unheralded boldness that is rarely seen these days. The armor that the Soldier samurai wear is an eclectic blending of traditional samurai aesthetics mixed with practical SWAT gear for a blending of the old and the new. It looks incredible and ambitious all at the same time. It’s just too delicious to ignore and it is without a doubt, some of the best genre madness I’ve seen in a long time. Kudos to all involved.
Give them some love by watching and sharing this film and if you love this stuff like I do, then this should invade your wheelhouse as fast as a Samurai cut.
