When evil Nightwalkers conquer the Empire, the last Samurai battles to save his homeland and family honor.

SYNOPSIS:

By the mid-fifteenth century, warfare has become a way of life in the feudal states of Japan. Stronger provinces prey upon their weaker neighbors. Just as the proud Nakamura clan is facing certain defeat at the hands of their mortal enemies, the eldest of four Samurai brothers returns from the Carpathian mountains of Eastern Europe armed with a supernatural weapon.

Although he's too late to save his father, ISAMU NAKAMURA turns the tide of battle to salvage victory for his family and the provincial lord they serve. But his youngest brother views his demonic new advantage as an affront to Samurai honor. AKIO refuses to join his brothers GORO and HARUKI in accepting Isamu's offer of immortal life and easy, endless victory. Akio forsakes his family, their tradition and his homeland, vowing never to return.

Twenty years later, a terrified contingent arrives on a remote island in search of the wayward Samurai, hoping to convince him to return and defy his brethren. They approach Shinji Tanaka, a fisherman who denies any knowledge of what they're talking about. Disappointed, but convinced they've found the right man, the visitors present Shinji with Akio's abandoned armor.

That same night, the visitors are found with their throats torn out. Convinced the murders are the work of Nightwalkers, Shinji's neighbors call on him for assistance. In dread, he accompanies them to a gruesome scene. When he returns home, he's horrified to find his wife and daughter have fallen victim to the same fate. Worse still, his son ARI has been kidnapped. A message which could only have come from Akio's older brothers has been left behind.

Vowing revenge, Akio reveals his true Samurai lineage to his apprentice HIRO. Intent on rescuing Ari, the pair journeys across an empire dangerously infested by Nightwalkers. During their travels, they begin to acquire the skills necessary to confront and defeat vampires spawned by Isamu's curse.

Before facing his brothers, Akio negotiates an alliance with the one province Isamu has left untouched out of sheer spite. With an army now at his disposal, Akio invades his former home. But he's been betrayed. His offensive quickly ends in devastating failure and Hiro's death.

Isamu makes one last attempt to bring Akio into the fold. This is exactly what the youngest Nakamura brother has been counting on. Akio defies Isamu and shows him the dishonor that vampire life has forced upon the land and their clan. Akio reminds Isamu of his original intentions and shows him how those noble aspirations have gone terribly wrong.

Realizing his disgrace, Isamu allies with Akio to duel Goro and Haruki in an attempt to return the family to its rightful station. The brothers are too evenly matched. Their epic sword battle ends in a draw. But Isamu has one last trick up his sleeve. He uses his nephew's wooden training sword as a stake and commits ritual Hari Kari to reclaim his honor. As the first in his line of vampires, his demise also destroys all the Nightwalkers who were made in his name.

As the sun rises on an empire finally rid of the vampire curse, Akio turns his back on the Samurai way. With Ari safely in hand, he returns to his adopted home to reclaim a simpler life.