Versus (2000): A Must-See Cult Action Classic From Japan

Can a filmmaker produce high-quality action on a shoestring budget?Versus is a zombie action horror film that goes heavy on substance -- combining gun-fu, martial arts, sword fighting, zombies, Yakuza gangsters -- but light on funds -- starting out with a budget in just the tens of thousands of dollars.An exhilarating action spectacle, the film did little in any box office yet spread around the world in the early days of DVD releases, becoming a cult hit.Ryuhei Kitamura's (Godzilla: Final Wars) debut feature film, the movie is called Versus because of all the fighting in the film and the director's battles off-screen to  become a director. Paying homage to his hero Sam Raimi, this is a low-budget movie also made in the woods with friends that launched careers and captured the vibe of a particular era: the early 2000s.Join me for this discussion of the Japanese cult action classic and its lasting legacy.I'll be talking wicked camera moves, all the actions of action, and the film's comedy.Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura. Starring Tak Sakaguchi, Hideo Sakaki, Chieko Misaka, and Kenji Matsuda.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com