Impulse Pictures' April 2018 Release of 'Women In Heat Behind Bars' One of the best Nikkatsu "Women In Prison" films!

WOMEN IN HEAT BEHIND BARS (1987) 

Label: Impulse Pictures
Release Date: April 10th 2018 
Rating: Unrated 
Region: 1
Duration: 69 Minutes
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) 
Audio: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono  with Optional English Subtitles 
Director: Junichi Suzuki
Cast: Shinobu Wakana, Reina Hatta, Tomomi Segawa, Saeko Kizuki, Mako Takigawa

Synopsis: The lovely Shinobu Himeno is arrested and thrown into Asahi Female Prison for being an unwilling accomplice in a jewelry store robbery. She's to serve her sentence in the infamous Cell Block 21, a dismal area full of tough, sex-starved women. Himeno is bullied and abused by inmates and guards and, after being framed for starting a fight, is taken away and tied up by the prison's infamous Mr. Kiya. Through flashbacks, we discover why many of the women have been locked up here and soon, in one great act of defiance, they rise up to overtake the prison in a bloody, violent riot! Can the shy Himeno ever escape this living hell?

Loaded with gratuitous nudity, sex, and violence, WOMEN IN HEAT BEHIND BARS is one of the best of the "Women in Prison" genre of Nikkatsu's vast exploitation catalog.

Special Features:
- Brand-New 2017 Remaster from Nikkatsu Corporation
- Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
- Theatrical Trailer

BRANDED TO KILL (1967)

BRANDED TO KILL (1967) 

Label: Arrow Video 

Release Date: 18th August 2014
Region Code: B
Rating: 18 Certificate 
Duration: 91 Minutes 
Language: Japanese LPCM Mono with Optional  English Subtitles 
Video: 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Cast: Jô Shishido, Kôji Nanbara, Isao Tamagawa
Director: Seijun Suzuki

BRANDED TO KILL (1967) is the this story of the rice-sniffing Yakuza assassin Hanada and his strange rise and fall within that organization. Director Seijun Suzuki manages to create both a stylish and kinky piece of cinema shot in gorgeous monochrome with a slightly surreal tonality about it. 

Our protagonist is the number three ranked Yakuza assassin Goro Hanada- played by the chipmunk-cheeked Jô Shishido. Hanada had been recruited by Yakuza boss Michihiko Yabuhara (Isao Tamagawa) to escort a man with a price on his head. Unfortunately he is teamed-up with with fellow assassin Kasuga (Hiroshi Minami) a washed-up hit man with a drinking problem. They are ambushed en route to the drop-off point and we get some sweet shoot-out and foot-chase sequences. Kasuga proves to be quite a nut and somehow manages to kill the number four-ranked assassin before dying. Meanwhile Hanada sets the second-ranked hit man on fire and thus becomes the second-ranked Yakuza assassin just beneaththe mysterious Number One Killer (Koji Nanbara). 

These opening action sequences are pretty awesome and start the film with a lot of madcap energy. In the aftermath Hanada finds himself without a car but is picked-up by an exotic femme fatale Misako (Annu Mari) who drives him to safety. Back at his pad Hanada and his wife have a LOT of sex fueled by the assassin's bizarre  fetish for the smell of boiled rice - more than once we find our guy face first in a bowl of rice - the Japanese are certainly no strangers to odd fetishes and this doesn't even make the top 10 for them. 

Hanada accepts a new mission and we have a great montage of creative kills including one that Jim Jarmusch cribbed for his films GHOST DOG - it was a blast seeing the original set-up here. The next contract kill goes horribly wrong when a butterfly ruins the shot - the errant bullet kills an innocent and as punishment for his failure Hanada is hunted down by the phantom number one killer - who it turns out is not such a stranger after all. 

On top of having a price on his head Hanada must deal with his treacherous wife who tries to kill him (and sets fire to his sweet pad) and a new love interest - the death obsessed Misako. The final third has a great shoot out and a series of psychological tortures which push Hanada to the brink of sanity right up to a delirious and tragic end. This is one of the more offbeat Yakuza movies I've watched - not that I've seen many - and it's dripping with sexuality - the screen capture above is just a taste. BRANDED TO KILL is a stylish Yakuza crime thriller with gorgeous monochrome cinematography and some great action set-pieces mixed in with some surreal weirdness.

Special Features:
- Interview with director Seijun Suzuki (7:08)
- Interview with star Jo Shishido by critic and author Koshi Ueno (6:41)
- Trapped in Lust [Aiyoku no wana] (1973) A delirious roman porno re-imagining of Branded to Kill from Atsushi Yamatoya, one of Branded to Kill s screenwriters and Suzuki s regular collaborators (1:13:33)
- Original Trailers for Branded to Kill (3:10) and Trap of Lust (2:07)
- Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
- Booklet by Japanese film expert Jasper Sharp, illustrated with original stills and new artwork by Ian MacEwan

The Blu-ray from Arrow Video is gorgeous with some sweet monochrome cinematography - proof positive that a gorgeous black and white film is just as stunning as color when presented correctly in HD! On top of the excellent audio and video presentation we have interviews with the director and star plus the Nikkatsu Roman Porno re-imagining TRAPPED IN LUST (1973) as a very cool bonus feature, not up to par with the original but a fun watch just the same. 3.5 Outta 5

DVD Review: NYMPHO DIVER: G-STRING FESTIVAL (1981)

Nympho Diver: G-String Festival  (1981)
The Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection

Label: Impulse Pictures 

Region: 1 NTSC

Duration: 69 Minutes

Rating: Unrated 

Video: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) 

Audio: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono with English Subtitles 

Director: Atsushi Fujiura
Cast: Anzi Eri, Ezaki Kazuyo, Aono Rima

Director Atsushi Fujiur's Nympho Diver: G-String Festival (1981) is quite a departure from the dark erotic delights that Impulse Picture's have been putting out recently as part of the Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection. It's a departure in that there's still a ton of naked Asians performing sex acts, don't fret that my friends, but it's a pretty light-hearted sex-comedy that's brisk and entertaining if rather light on plot. We begin with a fun voyeuristic sex scene as a young man attempts to screw his beloved in a rather uncomfortable place... the front of a compact car with an audience, the young woman squeals in protest to her lover's lust only to protest just as fervently when he stops, it's goofy, sexy and fun and sets the pace for the film's 69 minute duration. The sparse story revolves around a seaside village once renown for its attractive pearl divers, apparently these "ama" or "girl diver" films are a Japanese cinema sub genre all to themselves, anyway, the once thriving tourism trade has waned increasingly through the years, there's but one girl diver left in town and she's a bit of an aging sea beast, too. In desperation the mayor hatches a scheme to increase tourism and save his dying village by recruiting sexy, young divers from the surrounding area. Towards this end his young, and rather horny son, recruits a few pretty ladies, all in their 20's, from disparate walks of life. There's a nice montage of the mayor's son, Nobou, awkwardly approaching each woman and somehow winning them over, it's all a bit slapstick and good bit of fun, a pleasant departure from the previous Nikkatsu features so ripe with bondage, rape fantasies and violent sexual desires. So, while it's a welcome change of pace it must be said that despite the fact that these films were dark and maybe a bit of a challenge to endure they at least had, for the most part, an intriguing story line you could follow and maybe even sink your teeth into, Nympho Diver however is pretty slim on story, and mostly cobbled together with copious amounts of nudity and goofy sexploitation, which is not an altogether unpleasant issue. Everyone is getting some here; the mayor, his son, even the local priest is balls deep in it. We get a little bit of every kink here, from voyeurism, to fetishes, the priest pleasuring one of the gals with a wooden stick, grown men in diapers, breast feeding, sex under false pretenses, a love triangle and then it somehow it all culminates in a bizarre g-string festival and a bizarrely somber headscratcher of an ending, weird stuff, but it's Nikkatsu so you just gotta expect that sorta strangeness going in my friend.

DVD: Not the most attractive film cinematically but Impulse Pictures' disc look pretty great on a technical level, presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) we get a great source print with precious few flaws. Colors are a bit soft but overall it looks quite good with decent black levels, it's a surprisingly crisp affair. We get a Japanese language Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio track that's free of hiss and pops, dialogue, score and effects are well-balanced, there are  newly translated English subtitles for those of us not worldly enough to not need them, and quite honestly this is not really a film that requires dialogue. While the film is a bit disposable I am I am quite impressed overall with Impulse Pictures presentation of The Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection.

Extras are limited to the Original Theatrical Trailer (1:13) and the usual Jasper Sharp liner notes which accompany each of the Nikkatsu films, putting the film into context of the period, always an informative read.

Special Features:

- Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Liner Notes from Japanese Film Scholar Jasper Sharp

Verdict: Definitely a fun watch with ample amounts of nude Asian ladies, whom occasionally don g-strings, but are mostly just nude, with some fun low-brow kink and bawdy hi-jinx. Honestly, there's not a lot of re watch value here for me, none in fact, at the very least this was a fun break from the dark weirdness of the previous Nikkatsu films even if a bit sub-par. 2 Outta 5 

DVD Review: FAIRY IN A CAGE (1977)

FAIRY IN A CAGE (1977) 

Label: Impulse Pictures

Release Date: March 12, 2013

Region: 1 NTSC

Rating: Unrated

Duration: 71 minutes
Audio: Japanese Dolby Digital Mono 2.0

Video: 16:9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
Director: Koyu Ohara
Cast: Naomi Tani, Hirokazu Inoue, Rei Okamoto

Set during the latter part of World War II,  sadistic Judge Murayama (Minoru Ōkōchi) is the corrupt head of the military police, the sleazy official uses his position to falsely accuse the stunning Namiji Kikushima (Naomi Tani), a wealthy woman, of using her Ginza jewellery shop to finance an anti-government organization. Judge Murayama has Lady Kikushima and her suspected accomplice (Hirokazu Inoue), a noted kabuki actor arrested. Once imprisoned Murayama orders  new recruit Taoka (Kazuo Satake) to torture her while her Kabuki accomplice becomes a sex toy for the judge's female companion. As the film progresses Taoka falls in love with Kikushima, at first he despises torturing her but slowly grows to enjoy the physical tortures, as his lust grows he becomes more unstable and fantasizes about freeing her from her captors so that he can have her all to himself. 

The film is a long series of tortures and humiliations, Ōkōchi as the sadistic judge is fantastic, even more so is Japanese "Rope Queen" Naomi Tani whom endures many physical torments, mostly by the way of exotic rope bondage which look exquisite on film as she is strung up and degraded through humiliation. Her accomplice is subjected to the wild sexual demands of his female captor, forced to endure fellatio and as punishment for disobedience. At one point late in the film both he and the Lady Kikushima are bound as an itch inducing liquid is applied to their genitalia, thrown together into a cell they grind against each other in a desperate attempt to relieve their uncontrollable irritations, weird stuff.

The film stands out apart from other Nikkatsu Roman Porno titles in that it is quite political, clearly taking aim at the corrupt judicial system of the era, showing that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and in this instance corruption manifests itself luridly and gloriously onscreen in a series of perverse sexual tortures for the amusement of the corrupt. Political statements aside it's also a gorgeous period piece that's rather well executed and the cinematography is quite fantastic, adding a nice layer of gloss to an otherwise sleazy goings on.

DVD: The anamorphic widescreen (2:35:1) presentation looks fantastic, this marks the first time the film had seen a home video release on either DVD and Blu-ray and I am only too sad to say that I am reviewing the standard definition DVD - it must look fantastic in 1080p HD. As it is the DVD looks great, sourced from the original 35mm negative the print is near flawless with precious few instances of dirt, debris or scratches. The color pallet is a bit subdued, heavy on earth tones, but the colors are deep, fine detail is nice and the black levels are quite nice, this must look quite a sight on Blu-ray. 

Main Menu

The Japanese language Dolby Digital mono track is also very clean and well-balanced. Dialogue is crisp and clear, the score from composer Hajime Kaburaqi sounds great, well balanced and free of distortion with an English language subtitle option. 

Special features are limited to a 4pg. booklet featuring original movie poster art and liner notes from Japanese film historian Jasper Sharp,  a regular contributor to Impulse Picture's Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection releases, this was a particularly good read putting the film into historical context as well as praising the particular talents of the Japanese "Rope Queen" Naomi Tani. 

Special Features:
- New High-Definition Transfer from the Original 35mm Camera Negative
- Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
- Liner Notes from Japanese Film Scholar Jasper Sharp

Verdict:  Available for the very first time on DVD and Blu-ray Fairy in a Cage (1977) is a perverse and sadistic women-in-prison style period film featuring the stunning "Rope Queen" of Japanese pink cinema Naomi Tanio, a dark, erotic masterwork of sadism, titillating rope bondage, and degradation. This will be a scream for the fetish fans and perhaps the perfect grueling double feature to play alongside Salo or The 120 Days of Sodom (1976), both are notorious indictments of fascist society, depraved and controversial slices of cinema, this is by some measure my favorite of all of Nikkatsu's pink films, essential erotic cinema. 
3.5 Outta 5 

DVD Review: FEMALE TEACHER: IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS (1982)

FEMALE TEACHER: IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS (1982)  

Label: Impulse Pictures

Release Date: March 12, 2013

Region Code: 1 NTSC

Rating: Unrated

Duration: 70 minutes
Video: 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)

Audio: Japanese Dolby Digital Mono 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Director: Yasurou Uegaki
Cast: Rushia Santo, Toru Nakane, Toshiyuki Kitami

Well, the wife stepped out for a bit so once again it's time to throw on another naughty pinky violence film from Nikkatsu's Erotic Films Collection courtesy of Impulse Pictures, purveyors of fine filth. This time out it's Yasurou Uegaki's Female Teacher: In Front of the Class (1982) starring the exquisite Rushia Santo as a young school teacher named Reiko at a very weird high school where the rape pretty teachers seems to be at the very least an extra curricular activity worth a few extra credits. 

One day while showering after tennis practice Reikio is assaulted and raped by a man wearing a stocking over his face, in the aftermath she is left a wet drippy mess on the floor of the shower, a clue to the rapist's identity is left behind, a nondescript puzzle piece. Reiko, for reasons unknown, does not report the crime, she instead sets about sleuthing the identity of the rapist herself, which leads down a head-scratching path of questionable decisions and further acts of rape, some of which turns arguably consensual after the initial shock of being raped! The film seems to attempt to explore the fetishistic aspects of rape, a subject that has curdled my milk, from my first viewing of Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs (1971) truly makes me squirm in my seat, call me nutty but it's just hard to enjoy rape. Given the option I would much prefer the rape revenge aesthetic of Meir Zarchi's I Spit on Your Grave (1978) wherein the victim is allowed to exact some much deserved revenge upon the perpetrators, with this film we get something quite a bit different. This entry of the Female Teacher series is a challenging watch, Reiko is raped but then she endures further rape, humiliation and even torture in pursuit of the culprit behind the initial shower room rape, it's weird stuff that falls into the realm of violent sexploitation, it forces you to squirm a bit while you digest the dark, erotic delights, if you can given the context of the sex acts. As with all the Nikkatsi erodoctions from Impulse Pictures this is a censored cut of the film. Japanese censorship laws at the time forbid genitalia and pubic hair, as such it demanded strategic placement of the camera or the more intrusive digital scrambling of the image, creating a white fog over the offending parts, the image of a snatch apparently so offensive but semen oozing down a woman's inner thigh apparently not quite so much, gotta love the Japanese kink. 

DVD: Impulse Pictures DVD presentation looks quite good presenting the film in it's original anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) presentation, transferred from a nice print with very few instances of dirt and scratches, colors are strong and black levels are decent. The Japanese language Dolby Digital mono audio sounds very nice, too. Dialogue is clear and the score comes through nicely, newly translated optional English subtitles are also available.

Special features are pretty slim, we get a very nice widescreen presentation, the original theatrical trailer and the usual informative liner notes from film historian Jasper Sharp, while short on features this is yet another solid release courtesy of Impulse Pictures. 

Special Features:
- Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) Transfer
- Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Liner Notes from Japanese Film Scholar Jasper Sharp

Verdict: This seedy slice of Asian perversion features quite an array of bizarre and dark scenarios that will have you scratching your skull, the material can be a bit challenging but there's no denying the allure of this lurid Nikkatsu rape-fantasy film. 2.5 Outta 5