RED SWORD is a Japanese horror-action film that turns Little Red Riding Hood into a werewolf revenge story. Calling it “possibly the trashiest werewolf movie ever filmed” is Gizmodo’s provocative opinion, not an objective ranking or established consensus.
What is RED SWORD about?
Cataloged in Japan as ～本当はエロいグリム童話～ RED SWORD レッド・スウォード, the film recasts the familiar fairy tale as a violent werewolf story. Its protagonist, Beniko Akatsuki, survives a werewolf tribe’s attempt to stop the birth of a girl prophesied to destroy them. Wearing a red riding hood, she takes up a sword and hunts the tribe.
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The premise includes sexual violence, so this is adult exploitation horror rather than a children’s fairy-tale adaptation. Gizmodo’s 2012 description uses deliberately sensational language to sell the film’s shock value; that framing should be understood as the article’s tone, not as a neutral content classification or quality assessment. Gizmodo’s original article presents the film in that spirit.
Why was it called “possibly the trashiest”?
The word “trashiest” is a piece of critical hyperbole in the headline, tied to the film’s lurid premise and the article’s jokes about its low-budget effects. It is not a measurable category, an industry label, or evidence of a broader critical consensus. The available catalog record identifies the film and its release details; it does not provide ratings, audience figures, or an independent assessment of its effects.
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What are the film’s release details?
Tower Records Japan catalogs RED SWORD as a 2012 original-video action/erotic feature directed and written by Naoyuki Tomomatsu and Yuko Momochi. The Japanese DVD record gives these edition details:
| Detail | Catalog information |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 82 minutes |
| DVD release date | October 3, 2012 |
| Catalog number | KWAT-031 |
| Format and region | NTSC DVD; Region 2 |
| Language | Japanese |
The catalog lists Momoka Nishina, Asami, and Sayaka Sudo among the cast. These details describe the Japanese DVD edition recorded by Tower Records Japan; they do not establish whether it is currently in stock or generally available. A buyer considering this specific disc should check both the live listing and whether their player supports Region 2 DVDs and NTSC video.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it connected to Zombie Ass?
No. Gizmodo’s article also discusses Zombie Ass, a separate film, and mentions Noboru Iguchi in that context. That nearby discussion is not a credit for RED SWORD: the Japanese catalog record names Naoyuki Tomomatsu and Yuko Momochi as its directors and screenwriters.
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