DVD released: May, 2005.
Approximate running time: 89 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35.1 Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono
DVD Release: Japan Shock
Region Coding: Region 0 PAL
Retail Price: € 26,99

Reviewed by:
Ian Jane on June 16, 2005.

One of numerous ‘torture anthology’ films made by the inimitable Teruo Ishii, Shogun’s Joy Of Torture presents three separate short stories set in the feudal era, all of which are joined by some obvious thematic elements. On their own, these stories are strong stuff, and when combined, they make for an even grislier viewing experience, albeit a very nicely made one. The production values in the film, like the other ‘torture’ films that Ishii made, are top notch and the film exhibits some gorgeous cinematography which, when you contrast it to the content it’s displaying, makes for a paradoxical film. 

After a grotesque introductory scene which serves as a primer for what’s to come, we’re introduced to a manual laborer named Shinza who gets injured on the job after taking a log to the back of the head. Set in the days long before workman’s compensation plans and health insurance, Shinza and his family find themselves in dire straits when they can’t afford the medical treatment he’s going to need. To help take care of her brother, Shinza’s lovely young sister, Mitsu, tries to talk with his boss, Mino, in hopes he’ll give them some financial aid. Instead, Mitsu is raped by the despicable Mino, much to the dismay of Shinzo, who has recently come out with the fact that even though it’s taboo, he is very much in love with his sister. When Mino finds out their dark secret he knows he can use it against them and take Mitsu for himself. 

Let's just say that things don't end nicely for our incestuous friends...

In the second story, a nun named Reiho arrives at a convent where she’s to take up residence for a while. This convent happens to be situated next to a monastery, and as such, there are a lot of priests in the area. Reiho meets a young priest named Shunkei and soon forgets her vows and beings to have impure thoughts about him. When she catches Shunkei doing something that a priest shouldn’t be doing in the woods outside the monastery one day, she figures she can use this to coerce him into taking her. When Shunkei refuses Reiho’s demands, she snaps, and decides to take matters into her own hands. 

When it all hits the fan, there's some pretty inventive torture on display, some of which is almost Guinea Pig-esque at times.

The final story revolves around Horicho, the most talented and in demand tattoo artist in his area. When he finishes his latest masterpiece on the flesh of Kimicho, he decides to show off his artwork to some of the locals. An official named Lord Nambera happens to come across the piece and proceeds to knock the artist down a few notches with his harsh criticisms of his work. Horicho becomes upset by this and decides that his next piece will have to be even better than his last. As he strives to come up with a way to top his last effort, he comes up with the idea of sitting in on one of Lord Nambera’s interrogation sessions in which his men torture prisoners for information. Nambera agrees to Horicho’s unusual request, but it doesn’t come without a catch. 

The interrogation techniques on display in this one are the nastiest of the set pieces in the film, as women are burned, slapped around, poked and prodded and whipped and beaten, one is even spun strapped to a wheel that forces her head under water.

You’ve got your choice of watching the film in a Dolby Digital Mono Japanese track or dubbed into German, also in Dolby Digital Mono. While watching the film in German certainly is an odd experience and as such not without it’s own amusing merit, the film plays far better in its native Japanese. Optional subtitles are present in English, Dutch and German. The quality of the Japanese mix is far from perfect, it’s a bit tinny sounding and rather flat, but it gets the job done well enough and everything is at least balanced properly here

Japan Shock’s DVD looks and sounds okay (but still leaves room for improvement) but is lacking in terms of supplements and an anamorphic transfer really would have been much appreciated. Regardless, Shogun’s Joy Of Torture is an interesting and nasty little film that delivers in terms of shock value while still remaining firmly grounded in its Japanese roots.