AceShowbiz - 47 Ronin is a cult fantasy hit that starred Keanu Reeves as a samurai, and despite its troubled production and massive box office bomb, it has spawned a sequel nine years after its release with Blade of the 47 Ronin. The idea of Keanu Reeves playing a samurai sounds amazing, as does the idea of him joining forces with other samurai to battle supernatural threats, but 47 Ronin fell way short of that potential. However, the sequel takes a different approach, with a new story that takes place 300 years after the events of 47 Ronin.

Blade of the 47 Ronin follows a thief named Luna (Anna Akana) who attempts to sell off a sword that the 47 Ronin used to slay the witch Mizuki (Rinko Kikuchi). She ends up becoming embroiled in the war between samurai and the witch Yurei (Daniel Southworth), as the surviving samurai clans believe she's the descendant of the 47 Ronin. What follows is a film that might be even more insane than its predecessor, but Netflix users only have until October 24 before it leaves the streamer.

The director of Blade of the 47 Ronin, Ron Yuan, has a lengthy career as a martial artist and stunt choreographer, and it shows throughout the film. Most of the fights are highly stylized, featuring intense swordplay and martial arts action; it's a far cry from the CGI creations that peppered 47 Ronin, but it also looks and feels more interesting than its predecessor. Screenwriters Aimee Garcia and AJ Mendez also introduce a lot of elements that wouldn't feel out of place in an anime, including a pair of magical swords that determine the fate of the world.

Blade of the 47 Ronin also owes a great deal to its cast, who gives their all to their performances. Anna Akana's Luna is a sardonic yet skilled protagonist in the mold of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and audiences can't help but root for her. Daniel Southworth, having previously starred in fan-favorite genre fare like Devil May Cry and Power Rangers Time Force, doesn't leave an ounce of scenery unchewed. The cast is also rounded out by skilled martial artists, especially Mark Dascacos as elder samurai Shinshiro.

Will there be a third 47 Ronin film? Blade of the 47 Ronin topped the streaming charts when it first debuted on Netflix, but a third film hasn't been greenlit despite the ending leaving room open for another sequel. Carl Rinsch, the director of 47 Ronin, would eventually become involved with Netflix, but there's been no official word on a third installment. For now, fans of the series will have to settle for Blade of the 47 Ronin before it leaves Netflix on October 24.