Aug 14, 2026 · 5 min · 4 segments
Today on KIOS at the Movies host, Joshua LaBure, reviews The Sting of Death & The Samurai and the Prisoner.
Joshua LaBureHost
When the Blu-ray label Radiance released Kohai Aguri's 1990 Japanese psychological drama, The Sting of Death, I was immediately struck by some of the stills from the film.
After reading the synopsis, I decided to buy it without having seen it, and I'm very glad I did.
Going into the film, I was expecting a beautifully photographed, affecting drama about a marriage falling apart, and the film met those expectations, but it went much further.
using rich imagery and raw performances to create something that feels like a mix of a zen melodrama and an emotional horror film.
The film follows Miho and Toshio, who've been married for 10 years and have two children.
They met while Toshio was stationed on a small island during the war and fell in love.
They once imagined they would die together if Toshio was sent into battle, but the war ended before he would set off to fight.
Years later, their seemingly loving marriage is shattered when Toshio has an affair.
From there, their relationship begins to dissolve, and so does Miho's mental health.
The rich sound design and the bravery of the actors, who are willing to completely lose themselves in the story, make The Sting of Death a remarkable experience.
and in a
When the Blu-ray label Radiance released Kohai Aguri's 1990 Japanese psychological drama, The Sting of Death, I was immediately struck by some of the stills from the film.
After reading the synopsis, I decided to buy it without having seen it, and I'm very glad I did.
Going into the film, I was expecting a beautifully photographed, affecting drama about a marriage falling apart, and the film met those expectations, but it went much further.
using rich imagery and raw performances to create something that feels like a mix of a zen melodrama and an emotional horror film.
The film follows Miho and Toshio, who've been married for 10 years and have two children.
They met while Toshio was stationed on a small island during the war and fell in love.
They once imagined they would die together if Toshio was sent into battle, but the war ended before he would set off to fight.
Years later, their seemingly loving marriage is shattered when Toshio has an affair.
From there, their relationship begins to dissolve, and so does Miho's mental health.
The rich sound design and the bravery of the actors, who are willing to completely lose themselves in the story, make The Sting of Death a remarkable experience.
and in a
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