Building on the impressive strengths of KILLER’S MISSION with an added dose of Western-flavored pulp, FORT OF DEATH stands both as the exciting middle chapter in the classic “Bounty Hunter” trilogy and a textbook example of Japanese genre excellence. The infamous Ichibei (Tomisaburo Wakayama, LONE WOLF AND CUB) returns to action when he’s hired to defend a small village from the private army of a corrupt official. Masterfully constructed action sequences, strong performances, committed direction—FORT OF DEATH is the specimen sequel that delivers on all fronts.