Lone Samurai

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Lone Samurai

R

2025

1h 35m

Action

Drama

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9 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

A 13th century samurai finds himself shipwrecked on an island he believes to be deserted. As he contemplates his existence, it seems like a dignified death at his own hands might be his best solution. However, when he is captured by the murderous cannibal tribe that calls this island home, his survival instinct kicks in. Starring Shogen Ito and directed by Josh Waller (Raze, McCanick), Lone Samurai is existential action like you've never seen.

Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

Dec 12

2.5/4

Filmmaker Waller is here trying to have things both ways: to pay a sincere tribute to the classic Japanese samurai movies in the widescreen frames and spurting blood it borrows, and also to make a genuine thing, a samurai qua samurai picture.

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Jan 12

More tedious than it needed to be, Lone Samurai is an utterly predictable dud about a samurai stranded on an island with cannibals who want to kill him. The unrealistic fight scenes have adequate choreography, but the movie is idiotic.

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Maxwell Rabb

ScreenAnarchy

Dec 22

Slogs forward as the samurai wanders aimlessly across the island before being captured by a band of cartoonishly evil natives. The story is stitched together so sloppily that there's no tension, no momentum -- just dead air between swings of the blade.

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Joseph Neff

Spectrum Culture

Dec 15

A fitfully effective genre exercise that’s saved by compositional care and worthwhile, if not exceptional, action choreography.

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Jordon Searle

Loud and Clear Reviews

Dec 14

2.5/5

Josh C. Waller has some strong ideas, but the film was never going to rise above the pulpy nature of a ‘Samurai vs Cannibal’ action flick.

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Mark Dujsik

Mark Reviews Movies

Dec 12

2/4

[I]n their desire to surprise, the filmmakers also need to rush through each new part of this story...

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Apr 12

One big long (yet kinda slow) fight scene on a remote island.

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Marc Z

@TKDLife Feb 18

Lone Samurai tells the tale of a 13th century samurai stranded on an island and faced with a decision to take his own life, or those of his captors. This low budget action film was produced by Iko Uwais' production company, and Directed by Josh Waller. Lone Samurai stars Shogen in the lead role. He has some very good martial arts presence. The highlights of the movie feature Yayan Ruhian, whose presence in modern martial arts films is always a victory for the viewer. He has collaborated with Uwais several times. The film's cinematography and plot development remind me of another Well Go film starring Marko Zaror, Fist of the Condor, which I was a big fan of. It is a tight, watchable martial arts movie. The film has some very dark and violent elements. The fight choreography in the last third of the film is very good. The film leads to a predictable, but welcomed climax of violence. The weapons combat, as well as the martial arts sequences are well executed, and well filmed.

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Cavanşir G

@drgadimov Feb 13

Lone Samurai is an action thriller that surprised me with some genuinely shocking horror scenes when the protagonist encounters a cannibal tribe. The movie has three distinct acts with completely different tones: first a slow, calm survival drama, then brutal horror, and finally intense action. The samurai's journey from wanting to die by his own hand to fighting for survival against cannibals kept me watching. If you can get through the slow first act, horror and action lovers will enjoy the payoff. My rating is 7/10. See the full review: https://bookimov.blogspot.com/2026/02/lone-samurai-2025-samurais-descent-into.html

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Erica C.

@Girll_samurai5477 Jan 16

This samurai film is a quiet, simmering force of nature. It takes its time,deliberately letting tension build through stillness, restrained dialogue, and long, contemplative shots that feel heavy with unspoken threat. Every pause matters. Every glance carries weight. You can tell from early on that violence is coming, but the movie is confident enough not to rush it. When the action finally explodes at the end, it’s brutally earned!

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Danny Z

Dec 29

loved this movie! great story and ending. love samurai culture so this was on point

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Josh C. Waller

Director

Shogen

Riku

Yayan Ruhian

Witch

Rama Ramadhan

Boar

Sumire Ashina

Ahmya

Faisal Rachman

Bone Thin

Lone Samurai: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A 13th century samurai finds himself shipwrecked on an island he believes to be deserted. As he contemplates his existence, it seems like a dignified death at his own hands might be his best solution. However, when he is captured by the murderous cannibal tribe that calls this island home, his survival instinct kicks in. Starring Shogen Ito and directed by Josh Waller (Raze, McCanick), Lone Samurai is existential action like you've never seen.

Director: Josh C. Waller
Producer: Josh C. Waller, Alan Pao, Doris Pfardrescher
Screenwriter: Josh C. Waller, Josh C. Waller
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
Production Co: Woodhead Creative, XYZ Films, Vested Interest, Tunnel Post
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2025
Runtime: 1h 35m