(1973/JAPAN)
AKA-FURYO ANEGO DEN:INOSHIKA OCHO
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-NORIFUMI SUZUKI CAST-REIKO IKE, CHRISTINA LINDBERG, AKEMI NEGISHI, RYOKO EMA, YOKO HORI, NAOMI OKA, and SEIZABURO KAWAZU. SOURCE-PANIK HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT DVD (NTSC REGION 1 / 2005)
Ocho (Reiko Ike) witnesses the brutal slaying of her father a police detective. Seconds before his death, he grabs three pictured cards which are clues for Ocho as to who is responsible for his death. Several years have past and Ocho has become a professional gambler and pick pocket. One day in a gambling house she stumbles across a stranger who is brutally killed for cheating. As he breathes his dying breaths, he pleads with Ocho to find his sister Yuki who is in Tokyo and to give her a deed in order to save her from being sold into prostitution. Ocho who is seeking revenge for her father’s death, sees this as the perfect starting point to find the three responsible and kill them. Once in Tokyo, Ocho tracks down Yuki, who is being held by Mr. Iwakura. She approaches him and asks for Yuki’s release as she is there to pay the debt owed.
Mr. Iwakura has another idea, instead of giving him the money, he hears of Ocho expertise with gambling and challenges her to a game. Though he isn’t the one she must face, that comes at the hands of a western gambling ace, Christina (Christina Lindberg). If Ocho wins, Yuki will be released into hear hands, if she loses, she along with Yuki will become Mr. Iwakura’s. Little does anyone know, but Christina is a spy who is on a mission to help over throw Kurokawa. Still, even she has another purpose for being in Japan. That purpose clouds her mind and causes her to lose the card game to Ocho. As promised Mr.Iwakura will release Yuki, but first he has other plans, to break the young virgin’s body in. As time goes, it becomes increasingly clear who exactly Ocho is there to seek revenge upon. Seeking my be the easy part, but there is still the third person to discover who was apart of her father’s death. That person who bares the tattoo of a butterfly.
Simply one of the most shocking pieces of 70's Japanese pinku violence out there, SEX & FURY displays some of stylish ways to kill or be killed. Directed by Norifumi Suzuki who is notorious for his pinku violence films. One of the more beautifully filmed examples being CONVENT OF THE SCARED BEAST. A film that is displays hailed to be as artful if not being one of the inspirations for Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA. Many of the stylish aspects used in the film are pretty much first displayed in SEX & FURY. Lavish cinematography, slick transitions as well as some of the most bloody action sequences in 70's Japanese cinema. Still, one thing is for certain this film along with it’s sequel, the Teruo Ishii directed FEMALE YAKUZA TALE are quite under appreciated here in the west. Of course many of the elements that are house in these films have been displayed on a greater screen here through Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL films. As well here now through this DVD release through Panik House. What really stands out for me with SEX & FURY is it’s multi facet approach. By this I mean not only does it house it’s usual main story plot, but several underlining plots that link up from time to time throughout the duration of the film. This as well as introducing the Western element into it’s storyline, going as far as to actually using English language. Yes, this has been done several times in Japanese cinema, but for some reason it’s work much better here, maybe because most of it centered around the very lovely Christina Lindberg.
Most of the praise though must go to the performance handed in by Reiko Ike, who is just phenomenal in this role. Not only is she stunning in beauty, but brawn as well. This is especially displayed in a scene that has here battling with several people in the nude. Wielding a katana with might, she hacks her way through these guys and not sparing an ounce of blood in the process. I have seen many action/fight sequences before, but this one takes the cake as it was quite unusual for me to see this female in the nude dancing around slicing these guys up. Don’t get me wrong, it was great, but very different to say the least. She was not only good with the sword, but with her wit as well. Deadly as a black widow and yet beautiful as a angel. Very innovative in her resources, Reiko Ike certainly shows why she was Toei’s top bad girl during the early 70's.
Ah yes, the female who shocked the cult world with her vengeful ways in THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE, shows a slightly different side of herself here in SEX & FURY. Showing her more feminine side, Christina Lindberg is perfectly casted as a European spy looking for her Japanese lover. One most realize that she is first and foremost eye candy, so one shouldn’t read too much into her acting abilities. Though her performance in SEX & FURY isn’t that bad at all, given the many obstacles there might have been. Things such as the language barrier, though it seemed she could speak and understand Japanese quite well. I guess it would be a bonus seeing she would start in half a dozen films there. She also gets involved quite sensually in a lusty lesbian scene that eventually turns out to be a ménage trois.
I am completely speechless after going through this new Panik House Entertainment DVD release. Why? Well for starters, the print is absolutely incredible! Presented in a stunningly gorgeous new 16x9 wide-screen print. The picture looks like it’s almost brand new, very clear and quite clean. The audio is just a great too, presented in it’s original Japanese audio with English subtitles. There is of course the choice to listen to the extra audio track commentary from American Cinematheque film programmer and author of the book Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film, Chris D. A track that is very refreshing and highly educational towards the background of this film, the genre and the people involved. There are also poster and stills galleries, trailers, production notes, actor/director bios as well as a slick limited clear packaging cover for the first 10,000 units. Inside there’s the usual sticker that comes with these Panik House releases. This is truly a nice addition for those who really enjoy Japanese exploitation films from the 70's, as there is loads of it here in SEX & FURY!
STORY/FILM-4 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-4 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-3.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-3 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-3.5 BITCH SLAPS You can purchase this DVD through X-Ploited Cinema.
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