BONUS EPISODE - This week on Dark Talk, Dan and Danger Mark take a look at Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s extremely low budget crime caper Serpent’s Path, a chilling Japanese psychological crime thriller that blends revenge, mystery and moral ambiguity into one of the director’s most underrated films. Starring Shō Aikawa and Teruyuki Kagawa, Serpent’s Path explores obsession, justice and the devastating consequences of vengeance through Kurosawa’s slow-burning, atmospheric style.
In this episode, we discuss Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s distinctive approach to suspense, Shō Aikawa’s compelling performance, the film’s themes of revenge and guilt, its unsettling atmosphere, and how it compares to Kurosawa’s other acclaimed works such as Cure. We also explore the film’s influence on Japanese crime cinema, behind-the-scenes trivia, and whether Serpent’s Path deserves greater recognition as one of the finest Japanese thrillers of the 1990s.
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa and writer Hiroshi Takahashi were given a small budget to make two films, they quickly developed scripts based on the same central idea: a father seeking revenge. Takahashi wrote Serpent’s Path (1998), while Kurosawa, in collaboration with Yôichi Nishiyama, wrote Eyes of the Spider (1998). Kurosawa ultimately directed both films, creating a unique two-part project. The two movies were produced back-to-back over the course of just one month, using the same cast and crew, with Serpent’s Path serving as the first half and Eyes of the Spider completing the story.
During this episode we discuss:
● Why Serpent’s Path (1998) is one of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s most underrated films.
● Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s unique approach to psychological suspense and slow-burn storytelling.
● Shō Aikawa’s performance and why he became a cult icon of Japanese crime cinema.
● The film’s exploration of revenge, justice, guilt and moral ambiguity.
● The mysterious relationship between Miyashita and Nijima.
● The film’s minimalist style, pacing and unsettling atmosphere.
● Comparing Serpent’s Path with Cure and Kurosawa’s other psychological thrillers.
● How the film reflects the darker side of human nature.
● Behind-the-scenes trivia and production history.
● Why Serpent’s Path remains a hidden gem of Japanese cinema.
● Our favourite scenes, standout moments and final thoughts.
Let us know your memories and favourite moments from Serpent’s Path! And if you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving us a rating or review as it helps more horror fans find us!
Dark Talk is the podcast where we explore horror, cult cinema, sci-fi and exploitation films through reviews, behind-the-scenes stories, filmmaking discussions and movie history.
Starring:
● Teruyuki Kigawa as Miyashita
● Show Aikawa as Nijima
● Yûrei Yanagi as Otsuki
● Shirō Shimomoto as Hiyama
If you enjoyed this episode of Dark Talk, why don’t you check out other episodes:
● Premonition (2004): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/premonition-2004
● Battlefield Baseball (2003): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/battlefield-baseball-2003
● Samurai Commando 1549 (2005): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/samurai-commando-mission-1549-2005
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