FEMALE PRISONER 701: SCORPION (1972)

Directed By: Shunya Ito Written By: Fumio Konami & Hiro Matsuda Based on the comic by: Tooru Shinohara Cinematography By: Hanjiro Nakazawa Editor: Osamu Tanaka Cast: Meiko Kaji, Rie Kokoyama, Isao Natsuyagi, Fumio Wantanabe After being cruelly set up and deceived by Sugimi (Natsuyagi Isao), a conniving and crooked detective she had whole-heartedly fallen in love with (and subsequently lost her virginity to...), Matsushima Nami's desire for revenge knows no bounds. Her failed attempt at stabbing Sugimi on the steps of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters results in her doing hard time in a female prison run by sadistic and horny male guards. To Sugimi's surprise, Matsushima refuses to testify against him and his connections to the mob, and now the sheer fact that she knows such secrets makes her a liability. So Sugimi and the Japanese mafia orchestrate a plan whereby Matsushima will succumb to an "accidental" death in prison. They enlist the help of Kagiri, another female inmate with ties to both Sugimi and the mafia, thus their formidable plan is quickly set in motion. Little do they realize, however, how hotly Matsushima's desire for revenge burns within her. This film is so over the top it becomes instantly enjoyable because you never know what will happen next anything is possible in this film. It’s so ridiculous and full of energy while keeping it’s eye on the prize it’s hard to not enjoy it. The violence and effects are bad and obviously fake but it adds to the film in a strange way. You get used to it as the film becomes more and more surreal. The punishments and degradation the lead character faces seem to verge more on the kinky side. The film is exploitive and tries to be nasty but comes off as crazy and well put together. It is the usual type of revenge tale, but for all the times it tries to be dramatic it only makes the film more fun and entertaining and not too objectionable in fact it feels more campy then anything else. There are a lot of very memorable scenes such as. The revenge shower scene chase, The seduction of a same sex snitch who begs to go back undercover, Torture by light bulb. The direction is colorful and inventive always on the move and quick. It impresses as it seems both experimental and inspired. Quentin Tarantino took the theme song from this film to use in KILL BILL. Which it shares a bunch of storyline points with. This is obviously one of the films that helped inspire that film as they have a bunch of similar scenes. This film is a fun ride that has to be seen to be believed. It’s a one of a kind experience. GRADE: B+