Dark, brooding Yamashita Tomohisa is perfectly cast as the surviving son of a man so heavily in debt that he kills the rest of his children and his wife out of desperation.

The boy grows up to become the Black Swindler, the nemesis of swindlers everywhere. Instead of cheating innocent folks of their money, the Black Swindler goes out to trick swindlers and con artists, and cheat them of their money. Kinda like a Japanese Robin Hood — only way cooler.

Based on yet another manga series, this big-screen version doesn't flow well as a story. Just like the recent Boys Over Flowers the Movie, The Black Swindler has already been made into a popular TV series in Japan. Hence, certain events in the movie are not so easily understood by those who have never seen the TV series.

The original manga is apparently very good so we suggest you seek that out instead.