Blu-Ray Review: Kino Lorber’s Pray for Death (KL Studio Classics) 

The OG Ninja himself… no not Dudikoff or Nero but Shô Kosugi stars in one of the best Ninja films of the 80s.  The brutal Pray for Death.  This new two-disc special edition from Kino Lorber includes both the R-rated and unrated versions of the film!!

The Film 

One is always surprised when the Cannon Films logo doesn’t show up on Pray for Death.  The Shô Kosugi Ninja Action Revenge Thriller feels like the sort of down-and-dirty brutal picture that Golan and Globus specialized in.  Much of that has to do with frequent Cannon Screenwriter James Booth’s ultra-violent but adroit screenplay that pits Kosugi against corrupt cops, gangsters, and a psychopath so smart he could be friends with Anton Chiguth. 

The film’s story is straight again Death Wish style setup.  Akira Saito (Kosugi) and his family immigrate from Japan to America, buying property to start a business. What they didn’t count on is the rundown building is actually a drop point for the local gangsters.  When a double cross occurs leaving the mob without a multi-million-dollar necklace they think Saito is involved.  The gang headed by the vicious Limehouse Willie (screenwriter Booth) proceeds to systematically destroy the family in search of this necklace.  What Willie and everyone did not count on is that Akira is from a long lineage of Ninja… 

The film is a no-frills violent actioner directed with the sort of lean economy we just don’t see anymore by Gordon Hessler.  Hessler’s workman-like style pushes so fast that even the more salient story points won’t matter.  Once the story starts the movie is a freight train of action set pieces that has some truly overwrought melodramatic turns.  There is a scene of rape/assault but thankfully for all of us Hessler doesn’t come from the Michael Winner style of direction, even in the Unrated cut, the scene is kept to a minimum and is mostly implied.  

Pray for Death is as efficient as Kosugi’s Akira Saito getting to the business of the final showdown between Ninja and Psychopath.  This is where the film delivers a twenty-minute finale of Ninja-induced awesomeness and a final battle in a warehouse that could only be made better if, like in Cobra, the factory specialized in sparks.  That minor critique aside Pray for Death is everything you want in a Ninja film. 

The Transfer

Kino Lorber has done the film justice with what appears to be a new Master/Transfer.  The image is sharp with a beautiful grain structure on the widescreen image.  There is something about 2.39 framing during the 1980s that gives off such a pleasing to the eye composition and look and here is no different.  The image is glossy and filmic in a way that only 80s films are.  Yes, there are few bits of dust and dirt but no print damage – all of which is to be expected for a transfer that’s not a full on restoration.  Those issues are minimal. The resulting transfer is beautiful representation of the film giving it the look of a freshly struck 35mm archival print.  

The Extras

They include the following; 

• NEW Audio Commentary by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder & UK Cult Film Director Ross Boyask
• Unrated and R Rated Versions of the Film on Two Discs
• Sho and Tell Part 1: Interview with Shô Kosugi 
• Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K)

Note: The Commentary appears on the R-Rated Cut and the Shô Kosugi interview appears on the Unrated Cut

The all-new Audio Commentary by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder & UK Cult Film Director Ross Boyask begins with their introductions/bonfides before heading into the iconic opening title sequence.  Some of the other details include a discussion of the importance of the ninja in the 1980s – including some personal reflections by both growing up and loving the ninja as a figure and a movie icon; a great discussion about stunt work and sometimes how obvious stunt doubles are doubles are – including a great side discussion about Remo Williams; a great side discussion of R-Rated films being turned into Saturday morning cartoons; a discussion of the career of actress Donna Kei Benz; a discussion of their respective introduction into the films of Shô Kosugi; a discussion of the work and personal history of James Booth – including his screenwriting career including Avenging Force, American Ninja 2: The Confrontation, American Ninja 4: The Annihilation; a discussion of the kid fights in the film – and just how violent they are; a discussion of Shô Kosugi’s son and actor in the film Shane Kosugi – including a discussion of his filmography and personal history; a discussion of Shô Kosugi’s career and personal history – including a great discussion of the various martial arts he trained in; a discussion of Shô Kosugi’s son and actor in the film Kane Kosugi – including a discussion of his filmography and personal history; and much more.  Leeder with Boyask delivers a highly entertaining, personal, and informational commentary about not just the film, Kosugi but the entire Ninja phenomenon of the 1980s.  The track is as entertaining as the film itself.  

Sho and Tell Part 1: Interview with Shô Kosugi (19:06) – in this archival interview with the star, Kosugi begins with how he started in martial arts at his parent’s insistence, which turned into a lifetime of discipline.  Kosugi goes on to discuss his talent as a baseball player in his early life; his failures early in life and his contemplation of ending his life – and his sister’s help how he found a new lease on life in Los Angeles; his beginning teaching martial arts in LA; how the teaching lead to competing in martial arts around the US and Mexico – to his estimations over 600 trophies; his attempts to get into the industry and regulated to extra work for over a decade; how Enter the Ninja was his big break with the help of its first director Mike Stone; how he ended up starring in Revenge of the Ninja – including the story of how his son was also cast in the film; how the lunacy of Ninja III: The Domination came to be; Pray for Death – why he cast his sons in the film, the locations used, the fight inventive choreography, the story, and more. Kosugi is a great interview discussing his ascent to unexpected stardom with humility and transparency – leading up to Pray for Death. 

Rounding out the special features are trailers for Pray for Death [Newly Mastered in 2K] (2:16); Enter the Ninja (2:54); Revenge of the Ninja (1:42); Rage of Honor (1:37); American Ninja (1:34); 

The Final Thought 

Kino Lorber has given us a truly great edition of Pray for Death.  Highest possible recommendations!!! 

Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of Pray for Death is out now