Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx

On screen the lone swordsman Ogami Itto moves through a world of shifting loyalties as he faces a cadre of female ninjas aligned with the Yagyu clan. His mission soon widens as a traitor within the clan plots to sell confidential secrets to the Shogunate, drawing Itto into a web of espionage, betrayal, and combat. The film follows his patient, deadly method as he uses his blade and wit to cut through traps, rival factions, and dangerous rivals. The mood is spare and relentless, turning tiny moments into tests of nerve and resolve while the landscape mirrors the moral tension between duty and family. Its violence feels grounded and spare, and even the quiet pauses carry real weight within scenes.

Directed by Kenji Misumi, this 1972 entry in the Lone Wolf and Cub saga adapts the manga by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, bringing stoic action and period drama to the screen with lean efficiency that fans of series know.

Box office figures for this film are not widely documented, reflecting its status as a mid-range release in a long running series. It contributed to the franchise's steady regional grosses rather than blockbuster numbers in several markets overseas at times.

Cultural impact centers on its contribution to the look and mood of samurai cinema. The series iconic for precise swordplay, austere visuals, and a stark tension between duty and personal ties. Its imagery and pacing influenced later action films and TV shows that favor restrained violence over fanfare for viewers.

Critics praised the film for its lean storytelling, controlled violence, and the way it threads themes of loyalty, secrecy, and the cost of vengeance through a grim, B film aesthetic. It is seen as a strong entry in the franchise that balances character and spectacle without sacrificing tension or precision.