Exclusive U.S. Trailer for Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Serpent’s Path Explores a Harsh Quest for Revenge

      There has never been a more exciting time for fans of Kiyoshi Kurosawa in America. The recent wave of restorations and new projects reaches a peak with today’s U.S. release of his remarkable film, The Samurai and the Prisoner, the ultra-rare 35mm screening of Charisma scheduled for tomorrow, and the forthcoming release of the latter from Janus Films (which was acquired along with his outstanding Eyes of the Spider). Next month will finally see the U.S. premiere of Serpent’s Path, a French remake of the 1998 feel-bad classic, featuring Damien Bonnard (Poor Things), Ko Shibasaki (The Boy and the Heron), Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car, Her Private Hell), Mathieu Amalric, and regular Claire Denis collaborator Grégoire Colin. As we prepare for its September 11 opening from KimStim, we’re excited to debut the trailer.

      Those familiar with the original will recognize the premise of this new version, yet will likely be surprised by the developments it takes—notably, some exploration of the director’s own experiences as an outsider in France. While the previous installment was complemented by the previously mentioned Eyes—sharing cast, crew, and thematic elements—it sometimes feels as though Serpent’s Path is less of a remake and more like the third installment in a series. (Kurosawa himself mentioned that he views it as aligned with his creative intentions.) However, I’ll leave it to you to watch the film and make your own judgment.

      Here’s the official synopsis: “Kiyoshi Kurosawa revisits and reinterprets his 1998 thriller in this haunting French-language version of Serpent’s Path, transforming a tale of revenge into a chilling exploration of grief, guilt, and moral decay. Moving the setting from Tokyo to the desolate outskirts of Paris, the story follows a grieving father (Damien Bonnard) on a complex quest for vengeance against a shadowy child-trafficking syndicate known as ‘The Circle,’ assisted by the mysterious and disturbingly composed Sayoko, portrayed with captivating ambiguity by Ko Shibasaki. Expanding on the original’s psychological depth while maintaining its unsettling inevitability, Kurosawa delivers a masterclass in atmosphere and existential horror, reaffirming his status as one of cinema’s foremost creators of unease.”

      Check out the preview below: