This film begins in feudal Japan where a law has been implemented that restricts trade from Europe and China to very few ports and with strict rules governing who can profit from it. That being the case, a smuggling operation on an island in a swamp has been created by one of those in power who has been denied that privilege. Being a powerful person, nobody in the local area has the courage to investigate the inn on this small island that is the center of the smuggling operation. Likewise, since it is a center of illegal activity, the people who frequent this specific inn are violent outcasts from society who don't allow visitors to venture inside. That changes one day when a new police commissioner by the name of "Okajima" (Yonehachi Shima) decides to tempt fate and directly confront the owner of the establishment named "Ikuzo" (Tatsuya Nakadai). It doesn't go well for him. Unfortunately, an arrogant police commissioner isn't the only problem Ikuzo faces and, with the political situation changing, the question becomes if he can continue operating his inn without any further disturbance. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this made-for-television movie is a remake of the 1971 film "Inn of Evil" which ran 30 minutes longer and as a result seemed to have more depth to the overall story than this particular picture. Not only that, but the acting seemed more intense in the previous film as well. In any case, while I don't consider this particular movie to be bad necessarily, it could have used a bit more action or suspense, and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Review of The Law of Hell
