In Walker Whited and Dmani Q. Williams’ action short, Sakazuki, the term refers to two people sharing a cup of sake as a sign of loyalty. Two agency assassins, Djimon (Dmani Q. Williams) and Horio (Daniel Kwanghwee Choi) received their next assignments. Unbeknownst to each other, their targets are one another, as both have been dispatched to the same bar.
As the two begin their final showdown, they quickly realize that the hit orders they received came from the same person, and he’s just arrived.
Sakazuki is an homage to the martial arts from the 1970s to the present. It starts with two sympathetic heroes who are evenly matched and forced to fight together to take down a much more significant threat.
“Their targets are one another…”
Whited and Williams create kick-a*s heroes with compelling villains and sidekicks. As an independent film, the sets, location, props, and weapons give the story a high level of authenticity, but in the end, the fighting wins out. Fantastic action between our protagonists, and then they are outnumbered, leading us to an ending that left me wanting more.
Sakazuki offers fantastic fight choreography, a compelling assassin’s dilemma, and a final twist that begs for a sequel. With its stylish execution and killer combat, Sakazuki proves that loyalty is a dangerous game—especially when the sake is spiked with betrayal.
"…Loyalty is a dangerous game..."
