Seizō Fukumoto, born in Japan, carved a niche in the world of cult cinema with his unique portrayal of the 'kirareyaku' in films like Magic Serpent (1966) and The Street Fighter's Last Revenge (1974). His ability to convincingly enact dramatic deaths has made him a memorable figure in the genre, with a staggering 50,000 on-screen deaths attributed to his career. Fukumoto's work in Message from Space (1978) showcases his versatility, transcending the samurai genre to embrace the sci-fi realm, further solidifying his status in the annals of cult film history.
Magic Serpent
In ancient Japan, a good lord is killed and his throne is taken by the trecherous Yuki Daijo and his wizard friend Oroki-maru. The young prince Ikazuki-maru is rescued from the jaws of death by a magic bird sent by a wizard. Ten years later, Ikazuki-maru embarks on an adventure to avenge his parents and the wizard's death with his magic powers he learned from the wizard. He kills Yuki Daijo but then must battle Oroki-maru in a battle to the death.
