Uma Thurman’s iconic portrayal of Beatrix “The Bride” Kiddo in Quentin Tarantino’sKill Billduology has reigned as one ofthe deadliest female assassins in cinematic history. However, it would be reckless to label Kiddo “second-to-none,” asthere’s one revenge-seeking character that cemented herself as the deadliest woman30 years before the Bride ever rocked the screen.
That lady is Yuki Kashima, better known as “Lady Snowblood.” Released in 1973, the Japanese cult classicLady Snowbloodwas one ofseveral martial arts movies that inspired Tarantino’s 2003Kill Billfilms, with its protagonist bearing a strikingly similar origin story to Beatrix Kiddo as a tragic woman whose sole purpose is revenge.
Despite her imitator’s notoriety, Yuki prevails as the superior female assassin, even in contest with the infamous, katana-wielding Bride.
Why Lady Snowblood’s Yuki Kashima Is The Best Female Assassin In Movie History
Yuki’s Determination Is Near-Unrivaled
Set in 1874,Lady Snowbloodfollows Yuki Kashima from birth to adulthood, where she is trained by the priest Dōkaito avenge the rape of her mother and the murder of her family. At 20, Yuki travels across Japan to hunt down the last of her mother’s rapists, Gishirō Tsukamoto, encountering murder, bloodshed, and powerful revelations along the way.
Lady Snowblood belongs to the Japanese “Jidaigeki” genre, which directly translates to “period drama.”
What makes Yuki so compelling isn’t her origin story or masterful swordmanship—it’s her stark, unrelenting determination, which, in lesser hands, could border on absurdity, yet inLady Snowblood,strikes the perfect balance between resolve and brutality.It’s no wonder Tarantino drew so heavily from the film, visually and narratively,as Yuki endures as the template for ruthless female assassins.
Yuki Kashima Vs. The Bride: Who Would Win In A Fight?
Both Want Revenge—Only One Will Be Victorious
And now, the inevitable question:who would win in a fight between Yuki and Kiddo? Truthfully, a contest betweenTarantino’s Brideand her inspiration is an almost impossible yet equally entertaining conundrum, as both characters hold striking similarities in both drive and fighting styles.
Nevertheless,Kiddo’s quest for revenge would end prematurelyin the wake of her ’70s predecessor, any place, any time.
Indeed, the deadly umbrella-wielding assassin’s title is well-earned among her many foes and adversaries, all of whom—Kiddo included—lack one of Yuki’s defining traits—her training from birth as a revenge-seeking assassin. Despite Kiddo’s furious, blood-soaked resolve, she hasn’t overcome the circumstances that have defined Yuki Kashima’s life,making any encounter between her and “Lady Snowblood” a likely defeat.
What’s so gripping about the duel between Yuki and Beatrix isthe evocation of a sadly-discarded movie genre—the exploitation film, which remains out of the present limelight. However, this is all subject to change, and as Hollywood revives more and more past projects, we could very soon see aLady Snowbloodfigure dominate future box offices.
