11 samurai, a ronin, and a fool band together (led by Shinzaemon) to plan and kill sadistic Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira who is about to become the lead advisor to his half-brother, the Shogun.   All the planning depends a little bit on luck and gambling the samurai who are protecting the lord will go where the elite band want them to go.   13 ASSASSINS is set in the middle of 19th century Japan at the twilight of the samurai.   They are willing to lay down their lives to save the country from being thrown deep into war.   It also explores the duty of the samurai whether it should be blindly loyal to his lord or loyal to the people they are supposed to protect.   You have Shinzaemon representing one side while Hanbei is on the other side.   They don't want to face each other and yet they will not back down from their ideals.

13 ASSASSINS lets us know the characters and show all of the planning which leads up to a fifty minute battle as 13 battle 200 in a town near a valley pass.    The battle is raw and impressive.     Director Takashi Miike layers the battle with music before stripping it away and rely just on visuals and sound effects.   The 13 have turned the town of Ochai into a death trap in their one chance to kill the sadistic lord.   The battle scene alone is worth the price of renting or buying 13 ASSASSINS.