(JAPAN/1978)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-CHUSEI SONE CAST- TATSUMA HIGUCHI, TSUTOMU HORI, SHIN KAGAYMA, KENJI KASAI, MEGA KAWASHIMA and KEN KAZAMA.
The first in a series of five films sharing the ANGEL GUTS name, born from the 1970's manga created by Ishii Takashi. This certainly a fine start, incredibly raw, downright nasty at times and really executes the meaning of rape by force. Brutality reigns supreme through this well scripted story of three small time biker gang members (Kawashimi, Kajima and Sada) who terrorize the local community. When one Kajima goes too far with trying to rape a schoolgirl, Kawashimi stops him causing friction between them. To rectify the situation and to patch their friendship up, Kajimi tells Kawashimi that in order to fix things he must rape that very same girl in front of his and Sada’s eyes.
Reluctant at first Kawashimi excepts the challenge. Though on the first try, the girl is picked up by her father causing them to have to change their plan. The second try they succeed, they run her down in a train yard and Kawashimi has his way with her. Once finished, he notices that he has developed feelings towards her. Of course that gets in the way once Kajimi wants a piece of the action. Once again, their friendship is on the rocks. Trying to get his way with the girl, Kajimi is blocked by Kawashimi in ever attempt. Then, one day as he bumps into Kawashimi’s little sister, he figures that raping her would be the ideal way to get back at him. Leading up to the final show down between Kawashimi, Kajimi, Sada and the Yakuza!
HIGHSCHOOL CO-ED ends exactly how it begins, with pure violence. Of course that is a constant pattern throughout the whole film. Director Chusei Sone literately forces the subject of rape down your throat and never really allowing you to fully digest, at least until the very end. Though pretty much governed by violence and rape, there is a strong underlining feeling of friendship or strange loyalty, strange meaning in the sexual way. Once you rape your victim, everyone else gets their turn, never having a set order, just whoever gets first is the lucky one. This is played out by the actors involved with intense reality, though many of them being their first acting jig, it never shows. Especially the scene where the second rape victim has just been finished with, she lays underneath a boxcar and her facial expression is that of a real rape victim. The when she is finally let go, she goes out into the open and showers in the rain, shock factor of course, but none the less stark realism.
There are many elements that beef up the HIGHSCHOOL’S storyline besides the violence and rape factor which is carries so heavily. For instances, the relationship between Kawashimi and his younger sister is well portrayed in this. He is somewhat of a father to her, as it is pretty much evident that they have been on their own for quite sometime. They also add Kawashimi’s other life, his work life, though it maybe in small portions, it adds to the overall feel of the film. One film that certainly rides between the rails of acceptance.
The extras on this the first disc, include two very in-depth and informative interviews. The first being an insight into director Sone Chusei with RED PORNO director Toshiharu Ikeda who served as second unit director in HIGHSCHOOL CO-ED. The second interview is with series creator and writer Takashi Ishii who discusses the ANGEL GUTS series on a whole along with this manga version of the series. Also film commentary provided by Midnight Eye’s Jasper Sharpe, which is quite knowledge and very intelligent. The disc is rounded out with cover design, bios/filmographies and trailers.
STORY- 3.5 BITCH SLAPS
