Female Prisoner Scorpion Trilogy (3 Discs) (DVD)

To say this trilogy of Japanese WIP (Women in Prison - yes, it's a genre: official) movies influenced Quentin Tarantino in his homage 'Kill Bill' movies would be an understatement of some magnitude. These high production value seventies sexploitation ultra-violent, extremely stylised and utterly brilliant outings clearly set the exact mould into which Tarantino merely poured his updated ingredients. And I don't think he would mind my saying so one bit.

These are, without doubt, the finest samples of vengeance movies that I've had the privilege to see. Fantastic production values beautifully captured and transferred and housed in a natty box set from Eureka - and retailing for the price of a modest round of drinks. Had I not been sent the set to review, I would have been first in the pre-order queue to make sure I didn't miss the boat, fearful that Eureka would wake up and realise that they had mispriced. This set (at this price) really does need to be filed under 'too freakin' good to be true'! I've seen R1 copies of each of the individual discs going for north of £20 each on Ebay.



I suppose, after that excitable opening, I ought to balance this review by saying that the films are certainly not for the squeamish as they are extremely violent movies - even if it is highly stylised. There is no doubt that, in common with Tarantino's 'Kill Bill', these are frequently cruel and tasteless, often verging on the wrong side of misogyny. In fact, their only saving grace against this obvious charge is that, despite the intense cruelties meted out on the female prisoner of the title amongst others, she does inevitably gain the upper hand. It is the pathetic and untrustworthy males in the film who come out worst. And therein lies the very primitive pleasure that these unjustifiably politically incorrect movies offer.

For those who saw Rodriguez's 'Planet Terror' (which I thoroughly enjoyed), you will recall that Tarantino (who plays a cameo as a 'rapist') gets something of an eyeful from his would be victim; a piece of wood lodged into his right eye. This scene is taken, almost verbatim, from the first of the three pictures here and is perhaps the most iconic moment from the films - frequently referred to in the consequent movie too.



Something that I really liked about the three films is that they start off great, and just get better and better. If you think the first one is crazed, just wait till you get to the second. And if you think the second is depraved and surreal, just wait till you get to the third!

The PR bumph that came with the set describes it as 'a feast of feral sex, ultra-violence, impulsive lesbian orgies, and mock crucifixions'. I guess that's one way to describe it. I'm reticent to even try!





'Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion' (1972)

Matsu (Meiko Kaji), known as 'Scorpion', gets thrown into prison after playing the mouse in a corrupt police cat and mouse game. Raped by a criminal gang, and then cast to one side by the man she thought she loved (who throws some yen bills over he broken body as her part of the deal) she ends up in prison. The abuse magnifies as she is cruelly beaten, held in chains, and generally mistreated by both the male and female prison staff. But she is full of an inner strength and a quiet but determined focus on vengeance.

What follow frequently beggars belief, from naked cat fights with razors and smashed glass, to self-imposed and brutal abortions, to drug fuelled flights of cinematic surrealism, the film is a veritable whirl-wind of depraved sensation and hyper-violence.



It's notable that the female lead (Meiko Kaji) was invited to add some vocals to the soundtrack of 'Kill Bill' in a typically appreciative gesture from Tarantino, who had earlier cast Pam Grier in his brilliant homage to Blaxploitation, 'Jackie Brown'.

There's no doubt that Director Shunya Itô had absorbed the influx of US grindhouse cinema in the very early seventies and made it all his own. Violence, sex, stylised and warmly saturated imagery and a soundtrack equally 'grindhouse', full of wah-wah guitars and mad percussion, followed by sequences of sweetly orchestrated strings. Like so many violent sexploitation films from Japan (like 'Angel Guts') the Scorpion series is an adaptation of a popular Manga.


Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

The second movie picks up pretty much where the first left off. Our heroine is back in jail but she is ready for vengeance. When a visiting dignatory visits the prison all goes well, until 'Scorpion' is brought out from her solitary confinement where she has been chained up like a medieval witch, suffering horrendous abuse from the guards.

Once on display, she attacks the Warden - and a riot quickly ensues. A group of prisoners escape and run into the wilderness with the guards in hot pursuit. But the women now have so little to lose that they gladly wreak their vengeance on any that get too close. The film (which looks fantastic most of the time with some spectacularly considered cinematography) then descends into a strange, psycho-sexual melt-down where, in the space of just a few moments we see the women savagely kill a dog, hear one of the women describe how she killed her own children, come across an ancient witch and indulge in some tittilating lesbian sex whilst a battle with guards breaks out around them. This is, in every respect, a completely riotous film. But as the dust settles, and you're left thinking 'now I've seen it all' , there's always that third instalment. Surely that can't live up to the full pelt meltdown of the second movie? Well, hold onto your seats because the ride is about to go into overdrive!



'Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion: Beast Stable' (1973)

Nami (Meiko Kaji) the 'scorpion', is back having once again escaped from her prison. She now has a severed arm dangling (handcuff still in place) and takes up residence with an old friend. However, to support her mentally retarded brother, she has to take up prostitution. This is as good as it's going to get because even this half-life is about to be shattered with the return of some of her old enemies. And to add a further sordid dimension, she is expecting a child. But if you think that this will have any impact on her ability to wreak vengeance on those who have done her wrong, then you'd be mistaken. Expect the biggest blood-bath yet.



Extras

Perhaps the only disappointment with the set is the lack of extras. It would have been nice to have heard from some of the original cast and crew, or maybe had a film historian put the pictures into the social context of the early seventies. Oh well. What we do get is trailers and picture galleries.

The first two DVD's contain a little 4 page booklet with a mini-essay which are pleasantly brief yet informative.



Picture

Fan-bloody-tastic! I was expecting the worst from Japanese movies from the period, though I guess it's worth remembering that, despite the budget price tag, these have been issued by 'Eureka' who seem to be holding the torch for issuing great prints of classic movie curios. This is a really top notch 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer.

Sound

Good period sound with a crazed soundtrack that occasionally features feedback and wah-wah guitars. Dialogue is clear though, unless you speak Japanese, you'll be using the subtitles anyway.



Overall

Putting issues of good taste and political correctness neatly to one side, this set offers a completely mind-blowing set of films. Great transfers, excellent packaging and unbelievable price. For me, this is the release of the year thus far. If you liked 'Kill Bill' you're going to LOVE this!