The Rapacious Jailbreaker: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1974
Director: Sadao Nakajima
Writer: Tatsuo Nogami
Cast: Hiroki Matsukata, Tomisaburô Wakayama, Naoko Ôtani, Tsunehiko Watase, Tatsuo Umemiya, Gorô Ibuki, Kô Nishimura, Hôsei Komatsu, Tatsuo Endô, Nobuo Kaneko

Release Date: May 19th, 2025 (UK), May 20th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 5 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"In the free-for-all chaos after World War II, black marketeer Ueda (Hiroki Matsukata, Cops vs Thugs) is robbed of a pound of morphine. He takes his brutal revenge, but is arrested for murder and sentenced to 20 years. He escapes and is caught, but no matter where they send him, Ueda won’t let prison walls stop him." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The Rapacious Jailbreaker was transferred in High-Definition by Toei Company, Ltd. and supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file."

The Rapacious Jailbreaker comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.6 GB

Feature: 26.6 GB

The source looks excellent, flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay by Tom Mes titled Rule Breaker an Introduction to Sadao Nakajima (16 minutes 58 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with yakuza film expert Nathan Stuart, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 28-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Escape as Vocation written by Earl Jackson, an archival review of The Rapacious Jailbreaker written by Masaharu Saito, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Sadao Nakajima directed The Rapacious Jailbreaker. His notable films include Female Ninja Magic, Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok, Jeans Blues: No Future, and Great Okinawa Yakuza War.

A man imprisoned for murder successfully escapes from prison multiple times, only to be returned each time.

The Rapacious Jailbreaker can be summed up in one word: determination. Its protagonist, Ueda, is fearless; he never bends, no matter the consequences. Instead of taking it easy and playing by the rules, he’s constantly at odds with the prison guards. That said, he has only one goal: escaping from prison.

The narrative quickly draws you in with a scene that reveals what kind of man Ueda is. When a drug deal goes awry, he kills the man who betrayed him, along with a woman who was accompanying that man. There is something primal about Ueda, and this opening setup does a phenomenal job setting the tone.

The reason why The Rapacious Jailbreaker works as well as it does is because of the performances, especially Hiroki Matsukata (Cops vs.Thugs) in the role of Ueda. Though he always delivers memorable performances, this time around he gets one of his most substantial roles. Another performance of note is Tomisaburô Wakayama (Lone Wolf and Cub), who portrays an older prisoner who tries to avoid trouble. When it comes to the rest of the cast, they are great in their respective roles.

Though the premise and setting—a prison—are familiar, the outcome is anything but remotely familiar. The narrative's backbone is a series of prison escapes, each more ambitious than the previous one. The well-constructed narrative does an excellent job holding your attention with tense moments that build upon each other, culminating with an exemplary finale. Ultimately, The Rapacious Jailbreaker is an exceptional film that is reminiscent of Kinji Fukasaku’s 1970s crime films.

The Rapacious Jailbreaker gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Gate of Flesh – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1988
Director: Hideo Gosha
Writer: Kazuo Kasahara
Cast: Rino Katase, Yûko Natori, Tsunehiko Watase, Miyuki Kanô, Jinpachi Nezu, Kazuyo Matsui, Senri Yamazaki, Shinsuke Ashida, Seizô Fukumoto, Mach Fumiake, Masataka Naruse, Masaru Shiga, Akira Shioji, Jeremy Blaustein

Release Date: June 23rd, 2025 (UK), June 24th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 118 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"In the shell-shocked, rubble-strewn wasteland of postwar Tokyo during the Allied Occupation, a group of prostitutes band to together to form a makeshift guild with the aim of pooling their resources to build a dancehall called Paradise. As their independent existence becomes threatened by the hawkish parade of gangsters, black marketeers and would-be pimps all looking for a cut from their flesh-peddling, the discovery of an unexploded bomb in the cavernous burned-out building where they ply their trade throws their dreams into further jeopardy." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Blu-ray presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio".

Gate of Flesh comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.3 GB

Feature: 32.7 GB

The source looks excellent, flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well-represented, and the score sounds appropriately robust. 

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (posters/stills), a theatrical teaser (52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 53 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Earl Jackson titled Peddling Flesh, he discuss the various film adaptations of Gate of Flesh (22 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Toei tattoo artist Seiji Mouri titled Flesh & Blood (11 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Amber T. And Jasper Sharp, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Reimagining Gate of Flesh written by Irene González-López, and an essay titled The Pan-theon of the Pan-pan: Gate of Flesh / Carmen 1945 (!988) written by Robin Gatto.

Summary:

Gate of Flesh was directed by Hideo Gosha, a filmmaker best known for directing samurai films. His notable films include Goyokin, The Wolves, Violent Streets, and Hunter in the Dark. Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh is the fifth adaptation of Taijiro Tamura’s novel of the same name. In 1948, directors Masahiro Makino and Masafusa Ozaki each directed their own adaptations: Seijun Suzuki in 1964 and Shōgorō Nishimura in 1977.

Post World War II, in occupied Japan, a group of women makes a living by squatting in a bombed-out building, which they want to renovate into a dance hall using the money they have saved.

“When a woman gets old, she’s taken out of circulation like counterfeit currency.” These words spoken by a male character perfectly summarize the plight that the group of women working as prostitutes are experiencing. It is a life that they have not chosen; faced with few options to earn a living, they resort to the only thing, the only currency they possess: their bodies.

From its opening moments, the narrative does a phenomenal job of drawing you in. It is these initial moments that we are introduced to the group of women who the narrative revolves around. Though each of them has a distinct personality, they all share a common goal, which reinforces their bond. That said, it is clear early who these women are and what motivates them.

All around the entire cast are outstanding, especially Rino Katase (Yakuza Wives), who portrays Sen Asada, the leader of the women who live in the bombed-out building. She delivers a remarkable performance that captures her character's strong will and fearlessness. Other performances of note are Tsunehiko Watase (Wandering Ginza Butterfly), who portrays Shintaro Ibuki, an injured former soldier that Sen and her friends help nurse back to health, and Yûko Natori, who portrays Sumiko Kitazawa a rival of Sen’s.

The two most powerful moments come via flashbacks, both of which are shot in striking black and white. In the first of these, we see the event that forever changed Sen and put her on the path she’s currently on. This moment is also tied to the present; a man from her past and from her present are the same person. In the other of these flashbacks, we see a traumatic event where Sumiko is gang-raped by a group of soldiers, and while this unfolds, there is a burst of red when someone is shot. Another moment of note is a scene where Shintaro brings a bull to the blown-out building, kills it, and feeds Sen and her friends.

Gate of Flesh is a character-driven film, and it is filled with a cast of colorful characters. Besides Sen and her friends, there is a rival group of prostitutes and a crime boss who wants the building they live in. Though there are many forces coming at Sen and her friends, it is someone from within, a woman named Machiko, who ultimately betrays them. Another area where Gate of Flesh excels is its exemplary production design; it does a superb job recreating post-World War II occupied Japan. No matter which adaptation of Gate of Flesh, they all have their strengths. Ultimately, Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh is a solid adaptation that remains true to its source.

Gate of Flesh gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Devil Doll / Curse of the Voodoo – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: UK, 1964 (Devil Doll), UK, 1965 (Curse of the Voodoo)
Director: Lindsay Shonteff (Both Films)
Cast: Bryant Haliday, William Sylvester, Yvonne Romain, Sandra Dorne, Nora Nicholson, Alan Gifford, Karel Stepanek, Francis De Wolff (Devil Doll), Bryant Haliday, Dennis Price, Lisa Daniely, Mary Kerridge, Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Jean Lodge, Dennis Alaba Peters, Danny Daniels, Tony Thawnton, Beryl Cunningham (Curse of the Voodoo)

Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Approximate Running Times: 85 Minutes 5 Seconds (Devil Doll), 83 Minutes 50 Seconds (Curse of the Voodoo)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $49.98

Devil Doll: "Acclaimed magician The Great Vorelli dazzles audiences with his mastery of hypnosis while shocking them with a strange ventriloquist dummy named Hugo. Determined to uncover Vorelli’s methods for making Hugo’s movement and speech appear so real, reporter Mark English begins a covert investigation. However, nothing can prepare him for the strange and horrifying secret trapped inside the dummy, nor for the murderous actions it will take to be freed..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Curse of the Voodoo: "Mike Stacey is a cold-blooded guide to novice big game hunters. While on safari in Africa, he has to clean up the mess of one of his clients, shooting a lion they wounded but couldn't kill. But no sooner than moving in to collect the body is he accosted by the local tribesmen who reveal that the lion is their deity and that any man who dares interfere will suffer unimaginable torments. Upon returning to England, Mike is besieged by unrelenting nightmares and a paranoid sense that he’s being watched, chased, and hunted like the animals he preys upon. As he descends further into madness, he realizes that the only way he can break the curse is by returning to Africa and again facing the deadly tribe..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (Devil Doll), 4.5/5 (Curse of the Voodoo)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives."

Here is additional information about Devil Doll, “During our reconstruction of the Continental ‘nude’ version of Devil Doll, we discovered that previous home video editions had removed a short transition, which compelled the deletion of a narratively significant dialogue scene and retained it only in the ‘clothed’ version. We have ratified this issue and are proud to present the complete, original, and uncut version of Devil Doll containing all nude footage and dialogue. In light of this, we present the two brief alternate ‘clothed’ sequences as bonus features.”

Devil Doll and Curse of the Voodoo come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.5 GB

Feature: 19.6 GB (Devil Doll), 19.2 GB (Curse of the Voodoo)

Devil Doll's source looks excellent; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic. Curse of the Voodoo’s source is in great shape; any imperfections are minor. Image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Both Films)

Each film comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise they sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include alternate clothed scenes for Devil Doll (2 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Curse of the Voodoo editor Barrie Vince titled Time for Tommy's Tea (19 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with writer and film film critic Kim Newman titled Traditions and Legacies, he discusses Curse of the Voodoo (22 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview writer and film historian Jonathan Rigby titled Casting a Spell, he discusses Devil Doll (25 minutes 424 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw for Devil Doll, an audio commentary with producer Richard Gordon and film historian Tom Weaver for Devil Doll, an audio commentary with film historians Rod Barnett and Adrian Smith for Curse of the Voodoo, reversible cover art, a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 5,000 units), and a 16-page booklet with an essay titled Doll and Lion Man Lindsay Shonteff’s Early Forays into English Exploitation written by Johnny Walker.

Summary:

Devil Doll and Curse of the Voodoo were directed by Lindsay Shonteff, a filmmaker recognized for his low-budget genre films. His notable films include The 2nd Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World, The Million Eyes of Sumuru, Clegg, Permissive, and How Sleep the Brave.

Devil Doll: A reporter covering a story about a hypnotist with a lifelike ventriloquist doll uncovers something sinister related to the doll.

There is something inherently creepy about ventriloquist dolls, and a film like Devil Doll has an intriguing hook that draws you in. The story that unfolds is so much more than a tale about a ventriloquist and his dummy; the ventriloquist is also well versed in hypnotism. The narrative does a superb job of bringing these two things together in a finale that delivers a twist that most will not see coming.

The narrative has two parallel stories that unfold. The first of these is the ventriloquist and his dummy. The other revolves around a reporter who's doing a story on the ventriloquist. The thing that brings these two stories together is the reporter’s heiress girlfriend, whom the ventriloquist becomes infatuated with.

Though there are no performances that are lacking, only one stands out: Bryant Haliday (Tower of Evil) in the role of a ventriloquist/hypnotist named The Great Vorelli. It is a menacing performance that reinforces his character's mysterious aura. Notable cast members are William Sylvestor (2001: A Space Odyssey), who portrays the reporter investigating The Great Vorelli, and Yvonne Romain (Captain Clegg), who portrays the heiress.

Lindsay Shonteff is known for working with limited budgets, and though Devil Doll was made on a modest budget, it is one of his most polished-looking films. The well-executed narrative does a superb job holding your attention; pacing is not an issue, and it is very effective in building momentum to a finale that puts everything into perspective. The narrative also employs a lengthy flashback that reveals a secret about The Great Vorelli and his dummy. Other strengths include striking black-and-white cinematography and a collection of music cues that, in combination, reinforce the mood. Ultimately, Devil Doll is a well-made film that fans of possession horror films should thoroughly enjoy.

Curse of the Voodoo: An African tribe places a curse on a big game hunter who has killed a sacred lion.

Curse of the Voodoo is more of a psychological drama than a horror film. Though the premise deals with a curse, there are no real surprises or frightening moments. The closest that Curse of the Voodoo comes to being scary are nightmares that the man who shot the lion is having.

Bryant Haliday (The Projected Man) is cast in the role of the protagonist, a big game hunter named Mike Stacey. Where he delivered a performance that held your attention for Devil Doll, the same cannot be said for Curse of the Voodoo. Notable cast members include Dennis Price (Vampyros Lesbos), who portrays Major Lomas, the man who arranged Mike Stacey’s hunting trip, and Beryl Cunningham (The Weekend Murders) in the role of a nightclub dancer. That said, none of the performances leave a lasting impression.

Made on a budget even smaller than Devil Doll, Lindsay Shonteff does a remarkable job, especially when it comes to creating moments that are supposed to be taking place in Africa. The opening and closing moments are the strongest; unfortunately, the narrative is slow-moving and struggles to build any momentum. Ultimately, Curse of the Voodoo is a clichéd film that many will find tedious to sit through.

Vinegar Syndrome gives both films solid audio/video presentations and informative extras, only recommended for Devil Doll.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Motorpsycho! – Severin Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1965
Director: Russ Meyer
Writers: Billy Sprague, Russ Meyer, James Griffith, Hal Hopper, Ross Massbaum
Cast: Haji, Alex Rocco, Steve Oliver, Lane Carroll, Joseph Cellini, Timothy Scott, Coleman Francis, Sharon Lee, Steve Masters, Arshalouis Aivazian, Russ Meyer, George Costello, Fred Owens, Richard S. Brummer

Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 74 Minutes 1 Second
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10+
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $59.95

"When a trio of psycho bikers launches a sexual assault and murder spree in a desert town, the local veterinarian (Alex Rocco of THE GODFATHER fame in his screen debut) teams with a rage-ravaged vixen (the incredible Haji in her own first film role) to settle the score." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This 4K restoration was produced by The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

The film was scanned, graded, and restored at ImagePro from the 35mm original camera negative, with additional sections scanned from the 35mm interpositive."

Motorpsycho! comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 54.9 GB

Feature: 53.6 GB

The source is in excellent shape; it is vastly superior to all of this film’s previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, and image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid. Also, grain remains intact, and the image always retains an organic look.

Motorpsycho! comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23.1 GB

Feature: 21.3 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Like the video, Severin has done a fantastic job with the audio. The audio is in excellent shape; there are no sibilance issues, dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented, and the score sounds appropriately robust. That said, not only does the audio sound better than ever, it is difficult to imagine it sounding any better.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian Elizabeth Purchell and filmmaker Zach Clark.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actress Haji and actor Alex Rocco titled Desert Rats on Hondas (21 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Elizabeth Purchell and Zach Clark.

Other extras include a slipcover.

Summary:

A motorcycle gang led by a sadistic Vietnam veteran terrorizes a small desert town.

Though Russ Meyer’s films from Vixen! onward are outrageous farces that are technicolor explosions that leap from the screen, there is something equally striking about his use of black & white cinematography in his gothic cycle of films. Motorpsycho! is the third film from Russ Meyer’s gothic period, the other three are Lorna, Mudhoney, and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!. These films came after Russ Meyer’s "nudie-cutie" period, and they all contain elements synonymous with "roughie films," a sub-genre that evolved from "nudie-cuties." Tone-wise Russ Meyer’s Gothic period is noticeably darker than his other films.

Motorpsycho! taps into the delinquent-themed film movement that rose to prominence in the latter half of the 1960s. The narrative revolves around a gang that does and says what they want to, without fear of repercussions. Though most cower in their presence, there are two characters who are hell-bent on getting revenge against them.

Motorpsycho! does a phenomenal job drawing you in with an opening sequence that perfectly sets the tone. It is in this opening setup that we are introduced to three bikers who come upon a man fishing and his wife sunbathing in a bikini. Aroused by the sight of the voluptuous woman, they decide she is theirs for the taking.

All around the cast is excellent, especially Steve Oliver (The Naked Zoo), who portrays Brahmin, the short-fused leader of the biker gang. He delivers a menacing performance that is believable and utterly terrifying. Other performances of note are Alex Rocco (in his film debut) in the role of Cory Maddox, a veterinarian whose wife was sexually assaulted by the biker gang, and Haji (Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!), in the role of Ruby Bonner, a character who was shot in the back by the biker gang and left for dead.

No matter what genre he’s working in, Russ Meyer’s films do a superb job employing humor. Case in point Motorpsycho!, a film whose dialog is laced with sexual innuendo. The most prominent example of humor occurs in a scene where Cory is bitten by a snake, and he repeatedly urges Ruby to suck it out. This is a moment that purely embodies the cinema of Russ Meyer.

The narrative is briskly paced; it does an excellent job building momentum to an explosive finale that serves as a perfect climax. Visually, it's gorgeous black and white cinematography that takes full advantage of the desert locations. Though Russ Meyer keeps most of the violence off-screen, he’s able to create some intense moments. Ultimately, Motorpsycho! is a solid revenge-themed film that ranks among Russ Meyer’s best works.

Motorpsycho! gets a definitive release from Severin Films, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer