AKA-SEIJU GAKUEN, SCHOOL OF THE HOLY BEAST
(1974/JAPAN)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY- NORIFUMI SUZUKI CAST- YUMI TAKIGAWA, EMIKO YAMAUCHI, YAYOI WATANABE, RYOUKO IMA, HARUMI TAJIMA and YUUKO ORIBE. SOURCE- RED SUN NTSC REGION ALL DVD
Maya is out on the town celebrating her last vestiges of womanhood as she is about to enter a convent for women. Her purpose for joining this convent isn’t for the usual religious reasoning but to find out the truth behind her mother’s death. Of course her identity is a secret that later is unveiled to those it may shock. Upon her arrival, she discovers that there is much more then just praying for forgiveness going on in the confines of the convent. As Maya investigates her mother’s death, she is sucked into a total world of immoralities and deceit. Finally giving way to the truth of her mother and who exactly her father really is.
Expect total nunsploitation above all else, but don’t be very surprised that it’s done with style either. Director Norifumi Suzuki brings a vision that is quite artful as the cinematography is truly the one aspect that really stands out over the heaps of nudity. It’s mystical themes are truly a mesmerizing set of images in the same vein as Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA. Though in this case dealing with a convent of women who are struggling to except their fate of devotion to God. Hand in hand they play a vital part in carrying the storyline. As there is pretty much every possible exploitable element presented here, everything from lesbianism, flagellation to rape and total torture. Of course all in the name of Christ.
Deconstruction every aspect of a holy Catholic nunnery, but showing no matter how holy and devoted one is to God, there is still flaws and weaknesses that one will give into. Lust, for whatever turns one’s crank is laid out in full force as female nudity is smeared in all it’s good name all over the screen. There for the taking, never thinking twice it your are in fact carrying out a sinful act, surely not in the yes of this convent. All is lead by the extremely sexy Japanese starlet Yumi Takigawa who plays the young and tasty Maya. Takigawa puts forth an incredible acting job, especially for this film’s content. Suzuki puts Takigawa’s likeness and beauty on a pedestal equally that of the style and artful taste of the entire film itself. She like the film, are an exhibit of total beauty. One thing I have forgot to mention about CONVENT, right from the get go the film gave me that Italian cult cinema feel. Both in look and with it score from Masao Yagi. This aspect wasn’t just from the several hints giving along the way at the start of the film either.
The Red Sun disc is pretty much bare bones and it a suitable step until the yet to be released Cult Epics disc arrives on the scene. In the meantime, this disc is presented anamorphic wide-screen, which looks quite good. Accompanied by an original Dolby Digital surround Japanese audio track with English subtitles. There is very little in the way of extras on this disc, with it only offering up the Japanese trailer and photo gallery from the film. Still, if you can’t wait until the end of this August for the Cult Epics release, this is surely a nice purchase to tied you over until then. Next up Norifumi Suzuki’s BEAUTIFUL GIRL HUNTER. By the way the Cult Epics release will be under the US title of SCHOOL OF THE HOLY BEAST.
STORY/FILM- 4 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE- 3.5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO- 3 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS- 2 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD- 3 BITCH SLAPS
