Flower and Snake '74– Impulse Pictures (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1974
Director: Masaru Konuma
Writers: Oniroku Dan, Yôzô Tanaka
Cast: Naomi Tani, Nagatoshi Sakamoto, Hijiri Abe, Willie Dorsey, Hiroko Fuji, Yasuhiko Ishizu, Hiroyuki Mikawa, Haruhiko Sugawara, Akira Takahashi, Kôji Yashiro, Setsuko Ôyama

Release Date: March 16th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 73 Minutes 42 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $19.95

"Makoto (Yasuhiko Ishizu) is a sexually suppressed man living with his mother Miyo (Hiroko Fuji) who owns an adult toy store. When he was a child, Makoto remembers shooting a soldier whom he found having sex with his mother. The elderly man who owns the company Makoto works for has an interest in BDSM and wants Makoto to kidnap and “train” his wife (Naomi Tani) to submit to him. With Makoto battling the demons of his past and unsure of the consequences of his own sexual awakening, what transpires is one of the most shocking, perverse and jaw-dropping Nikkatsu films ever made." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “All-new high-definition restoration from the original camera negative provided by Nikkatsu Studios.”

Flower and Snake '74 comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 16.8 GB

Feature: 16.7 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, and compression is very good.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape; there are no issues with background hiss or distortion, dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

This release comes with no extra content.

Summary:

Masaru Konuma directed Flower and Snake '74. He is also known for Wife to Be Sacrificed, Cloistered Nun: Runa's Confession, Erotic Diary of an Office Lady, and Tattooed Flower Vase. The Oniroku Dan novel Hana to Hebi has been the source of numerous adaptations or films loosely connected since: Flower and Snake ‘74’, Fairy in a Cage, Flower and Snake: Sketch of Hell, Flower and Snake: White Uniform Rope Slave, Flower and Snake (2004), and Flower and Snake 2.

The narrative revolves around a sexually repressed man is given the task of making his boss's wife submissive after he finds bondage pictures on his boss's desk.

Naomi Tani, a famous starlet of Nikkatsu's romantic pornography films, stars in Flower and Snake '74. Some of her standout films are Wife to Be Sacrificed, She-Beasts, Warm Bodies, and The History of Women’s Torture. That said, it’s ultimately her portrayal of Shizuko Tôyama in Flower and Snake that stands out as her greatest performances.

Yasuhiko Ishizu, as Makoto Katagiri, the impotent son, experiences the awakening of his libido at the hands of Shizuko, is another performance of note. His character also has two of the most memorable moments, the first is a scene where it’s revealed that he keeps in his closet all of his discarded tissues in trash bins, which he refers to as a graveyard for his semen. The second is a scene where he learns the techniques he will need to make Shizuko submissive on a blowup doll.

Masaru Konuma’s direction is breathtaking in its daring and inventive compositions. There is a flashback shot in an oversaturated deep red tint, which adds to the moment’s surreal and at times bizarre imagery. In Flower and Snake, women twist and stretch every way imaginable, depicting wall-to-wall depravity. If you have seen any other Nikkatsu's romantic pornography films, then you are familiar with the many ways in which the camera obscures your genitals.

From a production standpoint, Flower and Snake '74 is a film where everything perfectly falls into place. A superbly realized premise overflows with depravity, and a well-executed narrative does a phenomenal job building momentum towards an unforgettable finale. Ultimately, Flower and Snake '74 has all the right ingredients and a spellbinding performance from actress Naomi Tani, making it a must-see for fans of Nikkatsu's romantic pornography films.

Flower and Snake '74 gets a solid audio/video presentation; recommended despite its lack of contextual extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Love Hunter – Impulse Pictures (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1972
Director: Seiichiro Yamaguchi
Writer: Kiyomi Koyama
Cast: Hidemi Hara, Mari Tanaka, Sumiko Minami, Hajime Mitamura, Kôju Ran, Ryûji Ôizumi

Release Date: July 28th, 2020
Approximate Running Time: 73 Minutes 58 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $19.95

"Twenty-year-old Kazuo is in love with his college girlfriend, Hisako, but he can’t help but be intrigued by a mysterious older woman named Kyoku, a promiscuous woman unsatisfied with her marriage. As time goes on, both Kazuo and Hisako are pulled into the seemingly rules free, borderless world of Kyoku – with all of its many pains and pleasures." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “Nikkatsu Films provided Impulse Pictures with a brand-new high-definition master.”

Love Hunter comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 16.8 GB

Feature: 16.4 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, and compression is very good.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape; there are no issues with background hiss or distortion, dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release are limited to a trailer for the film (1 minute 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Love Hunter is one of three films directed by Seiichiro Yamaguchi. The other two films are Love Hunter: Lust and Kitamura Toukoku: My Winter Song. Upon its release, Love Hunter became a controversial film. Seiichiro Yamaguchi, director of Love Hunter, was arrested for obscenity. It would be eight years before all charges got dropped, when the courts said, “While the film contained obscenity, it was not, as a whole, obscene." To date, Love Hunter was the last film prosecuted for obscenity in Japan.

Where later Nikkatsu romantic pornography films featured anemic narratives that focused more on erotica and moments of depravity, these elements in Love Hunter organically work with the narrative in a productive way that enhances the story at hand. The narrative revolves around three characters: an older woman named Kyoku, whose promiscuous lifestyle is connected to a childhood trauma, and two students/lovers, Hisako, a sexually inexperienced young woman, and Kazuo, a young man whose libido is at its peak. A chance encounter brings these three characters together. From there, Kyoku tries to drive a wedge between Kazuo and Hisako. Unable to divide the two lovers, Kyoku sets her sights on seducing Hisako.

When discussing Nikkatsu romantic pornography films, one cannot overlook how these films often far exceeded their limited budgets. Even in the earliest examples of Nikkatsu romantic pornography films, there is a level of artistry that elevates most of these films beyond mere softcore erotica. Nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to the visuals and how they strategically placed objects, despite being forced to come up with inventive ways to blur genitals because of Japanese censorship rules. Despite limiting what the viewer can see, it actually enhances the eroticism, making it a case where less is more.

Performance-wise, the cast are all very good in their respective roles, especially Hidemi Hara’s (Hellish Love's) utterly convincing portrayal of Kyoku. Mari Tanaka’s portrayal of Hisako, a virginal character who’s the polar opposite of Kyoku, is another performance of note.

From a production standpoint, Love Hunter is a film that fully maximizes its resources. The narrative executes the premise well, and it offers a satisfying balance of melodrama and erotica. Its cathartic finale provides a very satisfying conclusion to serve as a perfect coda to the events that have unfolded. Visually, Love Hunter does not disappoint, and its understated score does an exceptional job reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, Love Hunter is one of the best examples of Nikkatsu romantic pornography films.

Love Hunter gets a solid audio/video presentation; recommended despite its lack of contextual extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Zoom Up: Murder Site – Impulse Pictures (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1979
Director: Kôyû Ohara
Writer: Chiho Katsura
Cast: Erina Miyai, Yuki Yoshizawa, Yôko Azusa, Tatsuya Hamaguchi, Maya Hamazaki, Remi Kitagawa, Yuri Risa, Kazuo Satake, Ryôichi Satô, Takeshi Shimizu

Release Date: February 9th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 66 Minutes 46 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $19.95

"A violent killer is preying on women and dumping their bodies in an abandoned building. Tomoko (Erina Miyai) cheats on her lover with another man and thinks the killer saw their romantic tryst. She doesn’t want to go to the police, because she’s afraid her affair will be discovered, but the killer continues his murderous spree. What will Tomoko do to hide her torrid secret? Can she escape the hands of the murderer?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “All-new high-definition restoration from the original camera negative provided by Nikkatsu Studios.”

Zoom Up: Murder Site comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 15.1 GB

Feature: 15 GB

The source looks great; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, and image clarity and compression is very good. That said, this transfer effectively handles black levels, despite much of it being set in darkness.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape; there are no issues with background hiss or distortion, dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release is limited to reversible cover art with the alternate title Zoom Up: Rape Site.

Summary:

Kôyû Ohara directed Zoom Up: Murder Site. He is also known for making Fairy in a Cage, Female Convict 101: Sucks, Sins of Sister Lucia, and Nun's Diary: Confession.

The narrative revolves around a woman who has to choose between exposing her affair or identifying a killer.

Nikkatsu's romantic pornography films tend to fall into two categories: films that explore S&M and more exploitation-driven films that have endless assaults. Ultimately, films that fall into the latter category are this genre's most celebrated films, notable examples of films that fall into this category are Assault! Jack the Ripper, and Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls. That said, Zoom Up: Murder Site is a rare example of a film that falls into the latter category and holds up well when compared to this genre of films.

Content wise, Zoom Up: Murder Site has many similarities to Giallo cinema. Zoom Up: Murder Site has a black-gloved assailant who rapes and murders women. The killer in Zoom Up: Murder Site is another nod to the Giallo genre; its killer, like a killer in a Giallo, has a series of rituals that they perform. Though known for their softcore erotica, there are several Nikkatsu romantic pornography films that push the limits when it comes to violence; a film like Zoom Up: Murder Site is right in line with this genre's more graphic entries.

From a production standpoint, there are no areas where Zoom Up: Murder Site does not excel. The narrative executes the premise well and creates an abundance of tension. Kôyû Ohara’s direction is solid, and the visuals do a phenomenal job reinforcing an unsettling mood. The most memorable moment is a dream sequence: a man in a white room is strangled by a woman, and the moment before he wakes up, he enters something that looks like a vagina. From its opening moments, right on through to its finale, Zoom Up: Murder Site is a very satisfying mix of sleaze, sadism, and carnage.

Zoom Up: Murder Site gets a solid audio/video presentation; recommended despite its lack of contextual extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Two Taoist Tales – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1984 (Taoism Drunkard), Hong Kong, 1986 (The Young Taoism Fighter)
Directors: Yuen Cheung-yan (Taoism Drunkard), Chen Chi-Hwa (The Young Taoism Fighter)
Cast: Yuen Yat-chor, Yuen Cheung-Yan, Yuen Shun-Yee, Zhu Hai-Ling, Lo Pi-Ling, Hilda Liu Hao-Yi, Yen Shi-Kwan, Mandy Chan Chi-Man, Tsui Oi-Sam, Tai Bo (Taoism Drunkard), Liu Hao-Yi, Yuen Yat-Chor, Cheng Ching, Tai Bo, Yen Shi-Kwan, Kwan Chung (The Young Taoism Fighter)

Release Date: September 23rd, 2024 (UK), September 24th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Times: 94 Minutes 47 Seconds (Taoism Drunkard), 99 Minutes 39 Seconds (The Young Taoism Fighter)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £27.99 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

"Taoism Drunkard follows a man with a love for wine who accidentally damages a sacred statue. To atone for this blunder, he is asked by an enraged Taoist priest (Hsiao Hou-tao) to find a virginal boy (Yuen Yat-chor) to aid in defending his temple from a demonic sorcerer (Yuen Shun-yi). Then, in Young Taoism Fighter (directed by Police Story’s Chen Chi-hwa), a practitioner of Taoist kung fu (Yuen Yat-chor) manages to separate his soul from his body before teaming up with a vengeful young woman (Hilda Liu Hao-yi) to take on a sinister sorcerer (Kwan Chung) and the evil leader of a rival kung fu school (Yen Shi-kwan)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (Taoism Drunkard, The Young Taoism Fighter)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "Both films presented in 1080p HD from brand new 2K restorations".

Taoism Drunkard comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.6 GB 

Feature: 29.4 GB

The Young Taoism Fighter comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.8 GB

Feature: 31.4 GB

The sources for both films are in great shape; any source debris is minor. Colors look correct, black levels are strong, and image clarity and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English)

Both films come with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Though all audio tracks sound clear and balanced, the Cantonese audio tracks sound noticeably more robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitle track for Cantonese text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for Taoism Drunkard include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 21 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker and film critic James Mudge titled James Mudge on Taoism Drunkard (17 minutes 53 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival), and an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Extras for The Young Taoism Fighter include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 54 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with burnt-in English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker and film critic James Mudge titled James Mudge on The Young Taoism Fighter (10 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng, and an audio commentary with Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Other extras include reversible cover art, O-card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 28-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Return of the Miracle Fighters? written by Daniel O’Brien, an essay titled Flying Kicks and Thunder Magic written by Katarzyna Ancuta, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Taoism Drunkard: A drunken kung fu expert is the temple's only hope against the demonic sorcerer.

Taoism Drunkard is a family affair; the director Yuen Cheung-yan (who also appears in two roles), Yuen Yat-chor, and Yuen Shun-Yee are all part of the Yuen clan. Members of the Yuen clan include their father, Yuen Siu-tien (Drunken Master), and their brother, Yuen Woo-ping, one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated martial arts choreographers and a director in his own right. Taoism Drunkard is the third film in the Miracle Fighters series.

The narrative revolves around a drunk martial arts expert who damages a statue, and his punishment is to find a virgin boy who can appease the gods with a dance. Of course his search for the virgin boy leads to humorous moments, some of which are inappropriate. And as if trying to find a virgin boy was not weird enough, there is a watermelon monster that has to be seen to be believed. This monster is shaped like a ball, has extremely large, razor-sharp teeth, and has tentacles that attack nipples. That said, humor plays a significant role in the story that unfolds.

When it comes to the performances, they are all overflowing with enthusiasm. The most memorable performance is Yuen Cheung-Yan in the dual roles of the drunken Taoist and grandmother. His portrayal of the drunken Taoist is a deliriously over-the-top caricature performance that perfectly balances humorous dialog and psychical comedy. His portrayal of the grandmother is another scene-stealing performance that provides ample comedic moments.

When it comes to the martial arts sequences, Taoism Drunkard delivers in spades. The main character's drunken fighting style was first explored by Yuen’s in Drunken Master, and once again this fighting style is used to great effect. Ultimately, Taoism Drunkard is a wild ride, and there is rarely a dull moment.

The Young Taoism Fighter: An undisciplined student learns a fighting style where he can separate his soul from his body.

Despite The Young Taoism Fighter being a continuation of the Yuen clan's Miracle Fighters series, the result is a mess of film that never matches the quality of its predecessors. The Young Taoism Fighter’s most glaring shortcoming is convoluted narrative, it feels more like a series of moments, instead of a linear story. Fortunately, when it comes to pacing, things move along briskly ensuring there are rarely dull moments.

Once again, humor plays a large role in the story that unfolds. Not only are there humorous one-liners, but there are ample moments where psychical comedy comes into play. That said, most of the humor is best described as nonsensical. A scene where the master's brother trains the undisciplined student is one of the funniest moments. At the end of a series of gregarious exercises, the master's brother has shit on his face.

Martial arts cinema is known for lifting music cues and using them without given credit. Love is the Drug by Roxy Music and an instrumental version of Deborah Harry's Rush Rush, which originally appeared in Scarface (1983), are two such music cues used in The Young Taoism Fighter.

What The Young Taoism Fighter lacks when it comes to a cohesive narrative, it more than makes up for with its exceptional fight choreography. Just when you thought you had seen it all when it comes to fighting styles, The Young Taoism Fighter’s main fighting style, separating soul from body, brings something new to the table. In the craziest fighting sequence, a character uses his severed limbs to attack his opponent. Ultimately, despite its shortcomings, The Young Taoism Fighter is somehow a more entertaining film than its predecessor, Taoism Drunkard.

Two Taoist Tales is another solid release from Eureka Video, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

To Kill a Mastermind – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1979
Director: Sun Chung
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Wang Lung-Wei, Teng Wei-Hao, Sek Gong, Yuen Wah, Yuen Bun, Luo Sheng, Luo Jun, Mang Ding-Goh

Release Date: September 9th, 2024 (UK), September 10th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"BE CAREFUL: no-one’s safe as long as the evil kung-fu masters of the Qi Sha clan terrorize the land. Can they be stopped? The authorities have placed a spy in their ranks, but the clan – and their mysterious, unknown leader – won’t go down without a fight. Or several..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "HD Transfer From the Original Negative".

To Kill a Mastermind comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 25 GB

Feature: 24.8 GB

The source is in excellent shape; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and the image looks organic. That said, there are some moments where the image looks soft; this appears intentional.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in background, reversible cover art, 4 collectable art cards (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Sun Chung directed the film To Kill a Mastermind. His other notable films are Big Bad Sis, The Avenging Eagle, The Deadly Breaking Sword, Human Lanterns, and City War.

There are eight members of the Seven Deadly Kills Legion; one of them is the mastermind. And when someone starts killing them, they turn on each other, wondering which one of them is a traitor. That said, despite making for some really good martial arts moments, it takes a leap of faith to believe one man could outsmart so many exceptional fighters.

To Kill a Mastermind dives right in with a brutal opening sequence where prisoners are offered a chance at freedom in a fight to the death. Unfortunately, for them, their opponents are three highly skilled assassins, and one by one each prisoner is quickly disposed of, one of them even loses their head. This bloody introduction does a superb job setting the tone for what follows.

Though narrative is action-heavy, that is not to say that characters are not fully fleshed out. And when it comes to pacing, things move along quickly; rarely are there moments to catch your breath. That said, the narrative does lose some of its potency when you rewatch it, since you know who the mastermind is.

The most surprising aspect of the cast is that it does not have big-name actors; that said, there are several second-tier ones anyone familiar with 1970s martial arts cinema is sure to recognize. Fortunately, when it comes to the performances, none of the cast disappoints; the actor who portrays “The Mastermind” delivers the most memorable performance.

As mentioned before, the action sequences take center stage, and when it comes to their execution and inventiveness, they deliver in spades with the best being saved for an epic knockdown drag-out finale. Ultimately, To Kill a Mastermind is a highly entertaining adrenaline ride that stands out as one of the better films made by Shaw Brothers in the late 1970s.

To Kill a Mastermind gets a strong audio/video presentation from 88 Films, recommended despite its lack of contextual extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer