'Shogun's Sadism' ~ Worth a blind buy?

[James Erickke]

I know nothing about this title. I've been eyeing it for awhile now. Is it worth a purchase?

[Ian Jane]

I reviewed it on the main page last year, it's in the archives. I guess whether or not its worth a blind buy or not depends on how much you dig.. well, sadism. It's sadistic and nasty but really well done. I liked it quite a bit.

[Jeff D.]

Its a great slice of early Asian exploitation in my opinion. Heavy doses of gore
as well as t and a. If you like this kinda thing in your films (I know I do) its worth taking the chance on.

[James Erickke]

I reviewed it on the main page last year, it's in the archives.

What month is it under?

[Ian Jane]

It's right here:

http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/Reviews/Q-...ns_sadism.html

[James Erickke]

Thanks, Ian. Looks like I'm gonna have to order this one.

[Sheldon Warnock]

Ian wrote the following in his review:

Toei Studios cashed in with this film, directed by Yuji Makiguchi (which some people believe was a pseudonym for Tereo Ishii) and gave it a similar title - the film is also known as Oxen Split Torturing.

I wonder how those who believe that "Yuji Makiguchi" was a pseudonym of Teruo Ishii's explain http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/person/p0350860.htm (especially the fifth credit: assistant director for Tokugawa onna keibatsu-shi, directed by... Teruo Ishii), http://www.tky.3web.ne.jp/~omegaman/pre_maki.htm (especially http://www.tky.3web.ne.jp/~omegaman/maki.jpg), etc.? Japan Shock itself claimed on the black case art for its Shogun's Sadism DVD (http://www.japan-shock.com/hoesjes/R...shogunssad.gif) that the film was "directed by Teruo Ishii", although "Yuji Makiguchi" is "also credited as director". In reality, the film was solely directed by Yuuji (Y¯uji) Makiguchi; Ishii didn't direct or co-direct it, nor is he credited in it as having done so.

BTW, I noticed two errors in Ian's review. First, in spite of what Japan Shock claimed on the white case art for its Shogun's Sadism DVD (http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/Captures/C...dism/cover.jpg), the film's (romanized) Japanese title isn't "Ushiaki No Kei"; rather, it's "Tokugawa onna keibatsu-emaki: ushi-zaki no kei". Second, the film is from 1976, not 1969; see, for example, http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1976/cz002720.htm. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb), I might add, correctly lists the film as "Tokugawa onna keibatsu-emaki: Ushi-zaki no kei (1976)" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367151/combined).

[James Erickke]

The 1st half I found to be unrelentingly grim and filled with torture and gore. The 2nd half, thankfully, had some comic relief, but was still pretty gruesome in some parts. I liked the use of the narrator which lended the film some historical weight while trying to disguise exploitation, and very well-made exploitation at that, as historical drama. Highly recommended.