Review of Female Yakuza Tale

Introduction

This rushed sequel to `Sex and Fury` is seen by some as a more cohesive, better told-tale; despite the descent into even lower depths of tawdriness. That alone should have you reaching for the credit card! But for me, despite being a simpler narrative, it was a less enjoyable film. `Sex and Fury` delivered exactly what it said on the tin in pretty much equal measure. But here the emphasis is more in the exploitative sex than on the `fury` (with very little kung-fu action) and didn`t have the sparkle of the first movie. Of course, that may be a consequence of having enjoyed the first so much that this was a letdown. Curiously, though this is a sequel, there`s no need to have seen the first to understand this. In some ways, having seen the first is something of a hindrance as you end up wondering if the events outlined here came before or after the first and the plain truth is that it really doesn`t matter.

The movie opens with our familiar heroine Ocho Inoshika (Reiko Ike) getting mistaken as a drug smuggler. This offers a convenient excuse for some slightly queasy sexual torturing which only becomes more palatable when you realise that this movie will also end up being a revenge flick. When her captors realise that she`s not one of their employees they leave her unconscious next to a dead body in an attempt to frame her as being the so-called "Crotch-Gouge" murderer. (Yes - you read it right.)

Luckily she is awoken by a man in a white Elvis style suit by the name of Jyoji (Ryohei Uchida) who`s fresh from jail and looking to settle an old score with his gangster boss. During a chase scene that follows, he is rescued by a murderous and mysterious female who helps him escape. And she has revenge on her mind too.

Thus the scene is set for the magnificent three to wreak revenge on a gang of pimps and hustlers that are forcing abducted women to smuggle opium by inserting vials into their vaginas. (Though visually implied rather than explicit, this is none-the-less not a film for minors).

It`s notable that a change of Director (Teruo Ishii - The Joy of Torture, Orgies of Edo etc) has meant a change in direction for the sequel where emphasis is balanced towards the `sex` at the expense of the `fury`, and most of the fighting action is reserved for a fairly luke-warm fight-out at the very end of the picture, notable for featuring an almost entirely topless female cast.

Video

Presented in an anamorphic 2.35:1 this is yet another classy transfer, with lovely crushed blacks in the many darkened scenes as well as minimal signs of wear and tear or digitising.

Audio

Japanese 2.0 mono with a fantastic period score that seems to have taken its lead from blaxploitation movies of the same vintage like `Coffy` or `Foxy Brown`. It`s groovy stuff with plenty of wailing wah-wah guitar. Dialogue is nice and clear though subtitling a little quirky. You get the feeling that occasionally something has got `lost in translation`.

Features

Disappointingly there is no audio commentary on the PAL version of this movie though the US version has a full commentary by Chris D, author of `Outlaw Masters Of Japanese Film`.

You do get the original theatrical trailer though as well as three original poster stills, and 10 monochrome film stills. There`s also a text bio on the film`s star, Reiko Ike, which is no different than the one found on `Sex and Fury`.

Conclusion

Despite a more cohesive plot than its predecessor (`Sex and Fury`) I found this film to be a little disappointing. Most of the same ingredients can be found (great cast, cool cinematography, groovy soundtrack, and plenty of sexploitation) though with far less fighting action. Of course, given that the final ten minutes of the movie features a topless battle between a group of hookers and the men who have exploited them, this complaint may seem surly.

Like `Sex and Fury` it`s not be for the light-hearted or for the politically sensitive. (It`s worth remembering that this made some 35 years ago - presumably at a time when blatant misogyny was deemed acceptable.) It does, however, have a fairly decent narrative that`s relatively easy to follow.

Though named as a sequel to `Sex and Fury`, the two films can be viewed in any order and independently of each other. This is no Kill Bill 1 and 2, though you can rest assured that the maker of those movies has seen and studied these fairly studiously.

If you`re opting for one of the two, then go for `Sex and Fury` - or buy the double-pack.