Sex and Fury – Discotek Media (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1973
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Norifumi Suzuki, Masahiro Kakefuda
Cast: Reiko Ike, Christina Lindberg, Akemi Negishi, Jun Midorikawa

Release Date: May 28th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 43 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"The year is 1905—powerful players from across the globe are all vying for a piece of the pie in Japan’s booming industrial revolution. But none of them can ever hope to gamble like Ochô Inoshika, a petty thief who returns home to fulfill a man’s dying wish. In the process, she discovers that the nation’s would-be leaders have something they’re looking to cover up—her father’s murder. Now that all the major players are seated around the poker table, a vengeful Ocho lies in wait with a killer hand up her sleeve." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand new HD transfer."

Sex and Fury comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 18.7 GB

Feature: 18.6 GB

The source looks excellent; color saturation and black levels are solid, and compression is very good.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, things sound very good. Throughout the film, there are many things related to Japanese culture, and the subtitles provide information about these things when they appear on screen.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), and a slipcover.

A poster and still gallery, bios for Reiko Ike, Christina Lindberg, Norifumi Suzuki and Jun Midorikawa (an Easter Egg extra), production notes titled Toei's Bad Girl Cinema written by Chris D., an audio commentary by Chris D., a Reiko Ike sticker, and a see-through slipcover are among the extras not carried over from Panik Houses' 2005 DVD.

Summary:

Directed by Norifumi Suzuki, whose other notable films are The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

As a child, the traumatic event of watching her police officer murdered turned Ochô Inoshika towards a life of crime. Years later, she searches gambling houses looking for her father's killers; her only clues are three cards that hold the key to uncovering their identities. Along the way, she gets involved in a card game that will determine the fate of a young woman who she promised to free from the world of prostitution.

Sex & Fury is the first film in a series of two, followed by Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture. Both films star Reiko Ike (Graveyard of Honor) in the role of Ochô Inoshika, a gambler who's also deadly with the sword. Also, Sex & Fury and Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture had different directors, content-wise and stylistically; there is not much separation between these two films.

Sex & Fury dives right in with an excellent pre-credits sequence that lays the groundwork for why the protagonist has devoted her life to revenge. From there, the narrative does a phenomenal job of balancing exposition and action, as pacing is never an issue. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it builds momentum towards a sensational finale that perfectly brings Ochô Inoshika’s journey to a climax.

The main attraction is Reiko Ike’s portrayal of Ochô Inoshika; she delivers a scene-stealing performance that is arguably the best of her career. Though Ochô Inoshika bears all the traits that one has come to expect from Japanese female assassins, the result is a character that actually stands apart from the rest of the pact. Also, not only does Ochô Inoshika ooze sexuality, she is a force who can go toe to toe with any man.

Not to be overlooked is Christina Lindberg’s (Thriller: A Cruel Picture) portrayal of a British spy named Christina. Despite her limited range as an actress, she still delivers a charismatic performance that relies heavily on her physical presence. That said, the rest of the cast are very good in their roles.

Without a doubt, one of Sex & Fury’s most durable assets is Norifumi Suzuki’s stylized visuals, which heighten the mood. A few standout moments include a scene where a bathing Ochô Inoshika is forced to fight assassins in the nude and Christina’s death is one of the most beautiful deaths ever filmed. That said, the scene that stands out more than any other is an elegant ballroom sequence that introduces Christina.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Sex and Fury does not excel, and then some. There is never a shortage of nudity, depravity, or carnage, with some dark humor thrown in for good measure. The fight scenes are spectacular, especially when it comes to the strategic placement during the nude sword fighting. Another strength is composer Ichirô Araki’s exemplary score, which does an amazing job reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, Sex & Fury is one of Toei’s highwater mark films of the 1970s and a must-see film if you're a fan of Pinky Violence cinema.

Given the prominence of Sex & Fury in Japanese cinema, the absence of contextual extras in this release is disappointing. Sex & Fury receives a solid audio/video presentation from Discotek Media, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer