Samurai Resurrection

This movie was released in 2003 and stars Yosuke Kubozuka as Amakusa who has risen from the dead to seek revenge.

In 1637, 37,000 peasants perished in the Shimabara Christian revolt; among them, the leader of that uprising, Shiro Amakusa. More than a decade later, Amakusa rises from the dead hell-bent on revenge. Resurrecting a ghastly army of living dead master swordsman by way of an occult art called "Makai Tensho" (demonic transmigration), he sets his sights on overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogunate. Standing in their way is legendary samurai Jubei Yagyu, who will have to fight the reincarnation of his own father before a fierce final confrontation with Shiro Amakusa himself.

This movie will have more meaning if you have some understanding of Japanese history otherwise Jubei's duel with the dead Miyamoto Musashi will have less meaning or the resurrection of THE shogun himself, Tokugawa Ieyasu, will be won't mean as much. Yes, Ieyasu rises from the dead from his shrine in Nikko. The opening battle scene, although short, is impressive. It is an interesting samurai/horror film although I would have liked to have seen more sword fighting and more intense horror parts. This is film that really requires a beer or two or three or four to fully enjoy.