Massacre Gun: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1967
Director: Yasuharu Hasebe
Writers: Yasuharu Hasebe, Ryûzô Nakanishi
Cast: Tatsuya Fuji, Ryôji Hayama, Takashi Kanda, Hideaki Nitani, Jirô Okazaki, Ken Sanders, Tamaki Sawa, Jô Shishido, Yôko Yamamoto

Release Date: April 6th, 2015 (UK), April 7th, 2015 (USA)
Approximate running time: 89 Minutes 1 Second
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £19.99 (UK), OOP (USA)

"Shishido stars as Kuroda, a mob hitman who turns on his employers after being forced to execute his lover. Joining forces with his similarly wronged brothers, hot-headed Eiji (Tatsuya Fuji, In the Realm of the Senses) and aspiring boxer Saburô (Jirô Okazaki, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter), the trio escalate their mob retaliation to all-out turf war where no one will stop until one faction emerges victorious." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Massacre Gun was transferred from original preservation elements by Nikkatsu Studios in Japan. The film was delivered as a restored file oin a master tape to Arrow Films."

Massacre Gun comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.9 GB

Feature: 24.2 GB

The source looks great; source damage has been cleaned up. Flesh tones look correct, image clarity is strong, contrast looks very good, compression is solid, and though black levels generally look strong, there are some moments where they are not as convincing as they should be.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. This audio track is in great shape; the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with rare promotional stills, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 25 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Jô Shishido (17 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with film critic Tony Raines who discusses Nikkatsu (36 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, and a 24-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Colour Me Blood Red written by Jasper Sharp, and information about the transfer.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

Yasuharu Hasebe started his career as an assistant director under the guidance of the legendary Seijun Suzuki. He worked his way into the director’s chair in 1966 with the film Black Tight Killers. He would direct three films in the highly influential series Stray Cat Rock (Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter, and Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal) and the last Female Prisoner Scorpion film (Female Prisoner Scorpion: 701's Grudge Song) for Toei. In the mid- and later parts of the 1970's, Yasuharu Hasebe would go on to become one of the prominent directors making Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu. Yasuharu Hasebe’s first three Roman porno films, Rape!, Assault! Jack the Ripper, and Rape! 13th Hour, were all box office hits for Nikkatsu.

The narrative revolves around a mob hitman named Kuroda who sees the writing on the wall when his employer forces him to kill the woman he loves. And after the task is completed, he maintains all ties with his former employer. Shortly thereafter, Kuroda enlists the help of his two brothers, Eiji, known for his short temper, and Saburo, an aspiring boxer whose career is now at a standstill. Now a trio, they escalate their retaliation against Kuroda’s former employer, which subsequently leads to a turf war.

It was an explosive color palette and a nonsensical narrative that got Yasuharu Hasebe’s foot in the door as a filmmaker. Then it should be noted that a more refined narrative and use of monochrome, which were in direct contrast to his debut’s striking use of color, are what solidified his legacy as a filmmaker. Needless to say, Massacre Gun was his one and only film that he shot in black and white, which would serve as a marked departure from his aforementioned debut. From that moment on, never again would any of his films remotely resemble his debut, and with Massacre Gun, he would settle into a style that would follow him for the rest of his career.

The narrative opens with a bang as the protagonist is forced to choose between the women he loves or remaining loyal to the crime boss that he works as a hitman for. He would choose the former, and it is this action that drives the choices that the protagonists make throughout the film. And behind every strong man are a few equally strong brothers who help in the quest for vengeance. It is interesting to note that during the escalation between the protagonist's newly formed gang and his former employer, he is hesitant to use guns as a means to their ends. Fortunately, he finally gives in on this no-gun policy, and a flurry of gun battles ensues, thus truly living up to this film's name, Massacre Gun.

Content-wise, Massacre Gun has everything one would want, and then some, from a Japanese gangster film. Besides fighting for territory, both sides show off their sadistic sides, as they are willing to go the extra mile to prove their point. One of the standout moments of torture is a scene where Saburo, who once had aspirations to be a boxer, is captured by the rival gang, and they ensure that he remembers this moment by focusing on his hands. And when it comes to action sequences, Massacre Gun does not disappoint, especially this film's final shootout on a section of road that has yet to be completed.

The cinematographer on Massacre Gun was Kazue Nagatsuka, whose other notable films include Youth of the Beast, The Story of a Prostitute, Black Tight Killers, and Branded to Kill. And Massacre Gun’s monochrome looks exquisite throughout, as they do a superb job retaining that distinct look that has since become synonymous with Nikkatsu Noir.

The cast is a virtual who’s who of 1960s Nikkatsu, with Jô Shishido (Gate of Flesh) in the role of Kuroda, Tatsuya Fuji (Bloody Territories) in the role of Eiji, and Jirô Okazaki (Bad Girl Mako) in the role of Saburo. And though performance-wise, the entire cast is very good in their repetitive roles, none shine brighter than the performances from these three actors. Another performance of note is Hideaki Nitani (Tokyo Drifter) in the role of Shirasaka. His character is constantly at odds with Kuroda, and the scenes in which these two characters interact are easily the most compelling moments in Massacre Gun. It is their inability to resolve their differences and rebuild the friendship that they once had that drives Massacre Gun’s narrative. Ultimately, Massacre Gun is a solid crime film that fans of Nikkastu’s 1960s gangster films should thoroughly enjoy.

Massacre Gun gets a solid release from Arrow Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer