Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)Directed by: Isaac Florentine
Starring: Scott Adkins, Kane Kosugi, Mika Hijii, Shun Sugata
Genre: Martial Arts / Action / Revenge Thriller
Streaming on: Often available on Tubi, Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
OverviewNinja: Shadow of a Tear is the high-octane sequel to Ninja (2009), following Casey Bowman (Scott Adkins), an American ninja living in Japan. After a personal tragedy strikes, Casey sets out on a relentless quest for vengeance — traveling from Japan to Thailand to uncover a dark conspiracy tied to his past.
What follows is a brutal and non-stop barrage of expertly choreographed fight scenes, with Adkins delivering some of the finest martial arts action of the decade. No wire-fu, no shaky cam — just raw, bone-crunching combat.
What Worked
Scott Adkins at his physical and emotional peak — pure martial arts cinema Tight pacing with near-constant, well-shot action Brutal hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, and dojo showdowns Simple revenge plot that keeps the focus on action Crisp direction and choreography by Isaac Florentine
Fan Reactions
“The best straight-up ninja action since the 80s.” “Scott Adkins is an underrated martial arts legend — this is proof.” “No nonsense, no filler — just fists, blades, and vengeance.” “That dojo fight scene? Absolutely legendary.”
Final VerdictNinja: Shadow of a Tear is a throwback to no-frills action films — fast, fierce, and laser-focused on martial arts mayhem. Scott Adkins carries the film with raw intensity, while Florentine’s clean direction makes every kick and punch count.
Rating: 7.6/10 — A vicious, adrenaline-charged martial arts sequel that punches hard and never lets up.
