The Embryo Hunts in Secret (1966) | Region-Free (DVD) | Directed by Kôji Wakamatsu

English Subtitled

Title: The Embryo Hunts in Secret (1966)

Genre: Drama, Erotic

Plot Synopsis:
A mentally unstable man confines his girlfriend in his small apartment, subjecting her to various forms of bondage and torture. As his sanity deteriorates, he oscillates between acts of cruelty and moments of vulnerability. Ultimately, the woman seizes an opportunity to escape and exacts her revenge.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Kōji Wakamatsu
• Writer: Masao Adachi
• Producer: Kōji Wakamatsu
• Cast:
  • Hatsuo Yamaya as Marukido Sadao
  • Miharu Shima as Yuma

IMDb Link:
The Embryo Hunts in Secret (1966)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Gustaf Ottosson – ★★★★½
   “Koji Wakamatsu is, beyond a shadow of doubt, to me, this year’s big cinematic find… The Embryo Hunts in Secret is clearly a movie to love or hate, as it illustrates a director who is in complete control of his creative process and the visual outcome thereof.”
2. Kevin Royal Johnson – ★★★★
   “Wakamatsu punk film. Shot entirely in two rooms of an apartment and the hallway in between… Wakamatsu was eviscerating today’s raised awareness of the patriarchy nearly 60 years ago.”
3. dublincore – ★★★★★
   “Thinking about the Wakamatsu films I’ve seen & I’m not ready to revisit or consider re-evaluating 90% of them—but this one has grown & grown within me since my first encounter with it, & I’m not surprised to find it to be a masterpiece upon revisit.”
4. frances – ★★★★
   “While Wakamatsu’s films, including this one, are widely praised, it confuses me a bit how under-analyzed they are—especially when they offer content like what is shown here… I’ll end this rant here, but I would really implore viewers to look deeper here.”
5. Daniel – ★★★
   “Wakamatsu’s first independent film, shot on a minimal budget, is an uncompromising and in some sense fully-formed artistic statement… Technically very impressive, with some cool experimental techniques thrown in for good measure.”

Meta Description:
The Embryo Hunts in Secret (1966) is a Japanese drama directed by Kōji Wakamatsu. The film explores themes of confinement, sadism, and retribution, following a man’s psychological descent as he imprisons and tortures his girlfriend, leading to unforeseen consequences. Starring Hatsuo Yamaya and Miharu Shima, this early example of pink cinema delves into the darker aspects of human nature.