Description
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:
- 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.” - 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.” - 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.” - 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.” - 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.
Title: Eat the Schoolgirl: Osaka Telephone Club (1997)
Alternate Title: Kogyaru-gui: Oosaka terekura hen
Genre: Horror, Exploitation
Plot Synopsis:
Two young men work for a yakuza gang, producing sadistic r@pe and snuff films. One is addicted to telephone s&x, while the other can only achieve s&xual gratification by witnessing mutilated female corpses. Their depraved activities escalate as they delve deeper into their obsessions.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Naoyuki Tomomatsu
- Writers: Naoyuki Tomomatsu, Chisato Ōgawara
- Cast:
- Yuuki Fujita
- Michiru Katô
- Kozue Aoki
- Shirô Misawa
- Nobuyuki Hasegawa
YouTube Trailer:
Eat the Schoolgirl | Trailer
IMDb Link:
Eating Schoolgirls: Osaka Telephone Club (1997)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- AberrantGhoul – ★★★★☆
“If you’re the kind of person who still has a soul, stop reading here. This is for my fellow jaded nutbags. Damn! This random slice of nihilistic exploitation sleaze blew our friggin’ minds. It looks like it was shot on a potato, by a cameraman having a seizure, with the resulting footage edited by a coked-up lunatic. But it’s one of those things where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s filled with r@pe, gore, and surreal imagery that feels like it’s ambitiously aiming for some Tsukamoto vibes. There’s a scene where a woman is slit open from belly to chest, entrails flopping out, whereupon she exclaims, ‘My guts… my guts are all… all over…’ before expiring. It’s a lot to take in, but if you’re into extreme cinema, this one’s a wild ride.” - Horrible Reviews – ★★½☆
“Uhhh, this was pretty weird. I mean, I didn’t expect anything too conventional going into a pinku eiga movie titled ‘Eat The Schoolgirl’. But at the same time, I didn’t really get anything I DID expect either. I’m not really sure what was going on? This one guy goes out, dressed up as a Japanese schoolgirl, killing people. And he takes requests? But then he meets this ‘fallen angel’ who he grows really attached to. And some other stuff? It felt kinda deep, with a bunch of metaphors going on, but at the same time, it’s a movie where the aforementioned guy likes to jizz over fatally wounded women. It’s a bit of a mess (pun somewhat intended).” - Anemone – ★★½☆
“Thought this was going to be a little lighter than the Hisayasu Satô films on my computer… boy was I incorrect!!!!!!!”
Meta Description:
“Eating the Schoolgirl: Osaka Telephone Club” (1997) is a Japanese horror exploitation film directed by Naoyuki Tomomatsu. The movie follows two young men working for the yakuza, producing sadistic r4pe and sn*ff films, delving into their dark sexual obsessions.
Title: Delicate Skillful Fingers (1972)
Alternate Title: Shiroi yubi no tawamure
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot Synopsis:
A sensitive girl falls for a pickpocket she meets in a café. After his arrest, she becomes involved with his ex-girlfriend and former cellmate, leading her into a world of crime and complex relationships.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Tōru Murakawa
- Writers: Tatsumi Kumashiro, Tōru Murakawa
- Cast:
- Ichirô Araki as Taku
- Hiroko Isayama as Yuki
- Hajime Tanimoto as Jiro
- Yoko Ishido as Yoko
- Hiroshi Gojo as Yamaki
IMDb Link:
Delicate Skillful Fingers (1972)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- Dakota Noot – ★★★½
“One of the most ‘normal’ Roman Porno ever filmed (even if judged solely by the non-sexual use of a train). It brings in Nikkatsu’s history as a major, mainstream studio and their prior delinquent dramas. Director Toru Murakawa worked for years as an AD; finally getting his chance to direct under Roman Porno. He was ultimately disenchanted by the sexuality of the genre; never awakening like his fellow AD-turned-directors Masaru Konuma, Kōyū Ohara or Noboru Tanaka. And yet, I would absolutely recommend this as a ‘gateway’ film. It plays like New Hollywood – and even wooed a disgraced star and loyal Toei actor (Ichirō Araki) into Roman hell. Murakawa’s sensibility found its perfect mirror in writing with Tatsumi Kumashiro. Both…” - nikpollutra – ★★★
“More Roman Porno than I typically like, but good performance all around, a solid soundtrack, and I’m always a massive fan of Toru’s direction. Worth the watch for the bathtub scene.” - nagoya – ★★★★
“I wished all Nikkatsu films of the 70’s were this good: great performances by the whole cast, better than average soundtrack, good screenplay, but it’s the elegant direction of Tōru Murakawa that for me stands out the most. Smooth camera movements and beautiful set designs mixing with nice street shootings make for one of the best film of the RP series. Recommended!”
Meta Description:
“Delicate Skillful Fingers” (1972), directed by Tōru Murakawa, is a Japanese crime drama exploring the life of a young woman entangled in a web of love and crime after falling for a pickpocket.
Title: Woman of the Afternoon: Incite! (1979)
Original Title: Hirusagari no onna: chohatsu!
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Plot Synopsis:
Yuki, after a dispute with her unfaithful husband, leaves home and picks up a gay hitchhiker named Ken. Upon discovering his boyfriend’s infidelity, Ken continues traveling with Yuki. Their journey leads them to a diner inhabited by unsavory individuals, resulting in a harrowing ordeal of violence and abuse.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Nobuyuki Saitô
- Writer: Chiho Katsura
- Cast:
- Natsuko Yashiro as Yuki
- Yûko Asuka as Katsuko
- Yumi Fukazawa as Yôko
- Rebun Hori as Akio
- Akiko Hyûga as Sanae
IMDb Link:
Woman of the Afternoon: Incite! (1979)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- Blake Bergman – ★★★★☆
“Nothing like a road trip with your gay bestie! Well, before it crashes straight into ‘Deliverance!’ Even by Nikkatsu standards, this is a strange film. It’s unhinged and so abrasive.” - loureviews – ★★★½☆
“Within the first 5 minutes… we see the most unconvincing dentist… then the garish horror-score like strings piercing your ear as the cool as [expletive] title card shows up. That’s everything I love about Nikkatsu roman pornos.” - JunkMonkey – ★★★★☆
“Any movie that opens with erotic dentistry and has Incite! in its title is already a must-watch. To my utter delight, these two aspects barely hinted at the chaotic madness this movie had in store.”
Meta Description:
Woman of the Afternoon: Incite! (1979), originally titled Hirusagari no onna: chohatsu!, is a Japanese drama-horror-thriller directed by Nobuyuki Saitô. The film follows Yuki, who, after leaving her unfaithful husband, embarks on a tumultuous journey with a gay hitchhiker, leading them into a nightmarish encounter with violent individuals.
