With a title like Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture, it's safe for the viewer to expect a wild ride. Director Teruo Ishii delivers on that expectation in a big way with this film but not in the manner its exploitation-fan target audience might expect. Those viewers might be surprised by its totally bizarre sense of humor; it's not uncommon for a serious scene to shift gears into slapstick or a bit of obscenely humorous dialogue. Ishii also seems more interested in sex than violence, spending a lot of time subject ...
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With a title like Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture, it's safe for the viewer to expect a wild ride. Director Teruo Ishii delivers on that expectation in a big way with this film but not in the manner its exploitation-fan target audience might expect. Those viewers might be surprised by its totally bizarre sense of humor; it's not uncommon for a serious scene to shift gears into slapstick or a bit of obscenely humorous dialogue. Ishii also seems more interested in sex than violence, spending a lot of time subject the film's female protagonists to S & M-styled tortures and other sexually themed brutality. The end result is perverse and chaotic, maybe too much so for even exploitation fans, but it is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. Those who can stick with its self-consciously weird style will be rewarded with a strong, charismatic performance from Japanese exploitation icon Reiko Ike and an insane, thoroughly over-the-top finale that is worth writing home about. Ultimately, the appeal of Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture will depend upon the viewer's tolerance for kinkiness, but no one will find it easy to forget. Donald Guarisco, Rovi
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