Often considered the most extreme example of the pink ultra-violence genre,
this is a brutal outing from Yasuharu Hasebe (the third entry in his trilogy
RAPE!
and ASSAULT!
JACK THE RIPPER). Hasebe, a filmmaker from Nikkatsu's pre-pinku
eiga days, was never satisfied with standard roman-porn projects,
as exemplified by his NAKED
SEVEN. The studio's violent pink productions allowed him the most
freedom. However, the executives felt this movie had crossed the line.
Even though it proved to be a boxoffice hit, the studio reassessed 'production
standards' and stopped any similar projects (until the early '80s with
BEAUTIFUL
TEACHER IN TORTURE HELL, CAPTURED
FOR SEX 2, et al).
Akira Takahashi plays a notorious serial rapist called
Crimson. He's been eluding police for months. In his 'normal' world, Crimson
works at a gas station, taking advantage of the position by scoping potential
victims. Sometimes, his friend - a fellow employee played by Yudai Ishiyama
- accompanies Crimson for the sex assaults. One such rape is vividly portrayed
in excruciating detail when the two men attack a classical ballerina,
Ruriko (played by starlet Yuri Yamashina). Together, they also rape numerous
bar-girls in the ruins of an old movie theater [In an ACC
magazine interview, issue #25, director Hasebe says: "I chose
that dilapidated theater for symbolic reasons...to represent the rape
of cinema itself."]
Meanwhile, in the film - since police are frustrated
by lack of evidence in the assaults - vigilante groups spring up. The
most aggressive is a gang of homosexual delinquents who discover Crimson's
identity and track him down. They mercilessly beat the man and corner
him in an empty swimming pool, where they use a hammer to knock out his
teeth and orally gang rape him.
Some critics wrote [despite the exploitative elements
of the movie] it is "ripe with allegory, expressing Yasuharu Hasebe's
personal, angry commentary on the decline of filmmaking in Japan."
However, other critics - horrified by the unbridled cinematic savagery
- found less artistic merit in the production.
Mr Hasebe passed away in June of 2009 after complications with pneumonia;
he was 77.
A
Japanese
Film with optional English subtitles;
widescreen format, uncut (73 min.),
in DVD format, encoded for ALL REGIONS, playable on any American DVD machine.
Extras include selected theatrical trailers.
Nudity/Graphic
Violence/Rape/Sexual Brutality
Intended For Adult Audiences 18+
Often considered the most extreme example of the pink ultra-violence genre,
this is a brutal outing from Yasuharu Hasebe (the third entry in his trilogy
