Entrails of a Virgin
by Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Daiki Kat?, Megumi Kawashima, Naomi Hagio, Osamu Tsuruoka, Saeko KizukiDirector: Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Japanese (Original Language); English (Subtitled); Japanese (Dubbed)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 73 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-07-27
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Synapse Films
Movie Reviews of Entrails of a Virgin
Movie Review: This Japanese "pink" Horror could have used MORE Gore than sex...
Summary: 3 Stars
...I can't believe I just complained about that?
Once in awhile, you would encounter a film that you definitely will have the reaction not to like, but for some unexplainable reason, you see the film for what it's supposed to be and you end up being bewildered as to why a film would seem quite enjoyable. Such is the case with ENTRAILS OF A VIRGIN (1986, aka. Shojo no harawata), I know it's the type of flick that most people would deem as garbage but then again, one man's garbage is another's treasure. For me, the film had a lot of guts; this film does have a lot of "intestinal fortitude" to pull this off.
Three alluring models; Kei (Megumi Kawashima), Rei (Saeko Kizuki) and Kazuyo (Naomi Hagio) have just completed a photo session with photographer, Asaoka (Daiki Kato). They are accompanied by the producer, Itomura (Osamu Tsuruoka) and Asaoka's assistant Tachikawa (Hideki Takahashi). They get lost in the woods during a very dense fog and decide to spend the night in a deserted cabin (or is it a house?). A killer mud monster decides to stalk the group and make the women his sex slaves.
I really cannot say if Kazuo "Gaira" Komizu's gory thriller intended to explore the mythologies of "things that go bump in the night" or if he wanted to make a truly exploitive film. I have a hard time classifying this film as a piece of Japanese "pink" horror. I know that films such as this are meant to have a simple storyline, as an excuse for Japanese women to show their stuff. The film is definitely exploitive, there is a lot of graphic sex and nudity on display but it just didn't provide the necessary scares to really provide the viewer with pure mindless fun. As with most Japanese films during this time, the naked crotch areas have been fogged so the viewer cannot have a clear view, but the actors treat themselves to some very excessive spooning. This is a film made in the 80's so expect the 80's hairdos and outfits.
The film definitely follows all the formulas of people stuck in the woods, while the men take advantage of the women, they force themselves on them and despite the women's protestations, they get degraded anyway. Male superiority over women in show business is explored and director Gaira pulled all the stops to get his point across. There really is nothing original here, Gaira just seemed to revel in the fact that he is displaying a lot of sleazy and exploitive sex onscreen. Yes, the sex scenes are more graphic than the ones on late night cable and walks the thin line between softcore and hardcore porn.
The characters themselves are unlikable. The men are manipulative beasts and the women, well, I'm not really quite certain as to why they do let these things happen to them. I couldn't really feel any sympathy because the women are really underdeveloped. "Unpleasant folks have unpleasant experiences" may well be the film's major selling point. I do think that the male characters got what they deserved.
Now, the death scenes aren't quite as inventive as I would've wished them to be. Truth be told, if there was more blood and gore than the sex and nudity, then the film would have been a lot more fun. The "Mud Man" looked like a cross between a cannibal and a sex-crazed psychopath. Gaira exaggerates some scenes as with the antagonist's manly attributes and shadows are used to give the viewer an idea as to what is going on. The director obviously wanted to add some `artistic' visuals when it came to gore, and it is quite funny in its own way.
There are quite a number of scenes that are full of audacity, and some scenes may prove pointless. The gore and blood looked quite campy but there is a certain amount of brilliance hidden in the film somewhere. I am sure U.S. filmmakers have thought about it but only the Japanese have the guts to follow through their ideas. The scene where Kazuyo (Naomi Hagio, the sexiest of the three) goes down on the mud man while she touches herself with a severed hand exhibits brilliance (?) as well as balls to the wall sleazy exploitation.
Those who are expecting an ultra-blood-soaked affair may be a little disappointed. True, if it could have used MORE GORE than sex (I can't believe I said that) but this film further cements the idea that Japanese filmmakers may know more about exploitation than anyone else. If you look at it from a viewpoint that the director almost went to the limits of exploitation then you may be impressed. I am rather curious as to how he manages to top this film with "Entrails of a Beautiful Woman", I've read that the sequel even goes further. Me, personally, I thought the live action "La Blue Girl" exhibited more discipline. (Does anyone want me to review that?)
Overall, this will definitely make a mark in the annals of Asian Cult Cinema. The film is definitely geared towards the fans of slasher/gore/sex films. The idea of a mud man walking around raping and killing women seemed a little nihilistic but it will hold your interest, in a bizarre way. The film is sleazy, sexy and gory; gorehounds have a reason to rejoice.
This is one movie I can't really say I'd recommend but it's worth a look for fans of Japanese cinema. Proceed with caution. [3- Stars]
For a real contrasting opinion, see amazon friend Zack Davisson's great review.
Summary of Entrails of a Virgin
A group of people on a photo shoot in the woods take refuge in a dark house as a dense fog rolls in. When night falls, a mud-covered creature from the nearby swamp stalks them one by one brutally killing them and performing horrific sex-games with the women. ENTRAILS OF THE VIRGIN is the controversial sex-and-gore nightmare from director Gaira (Kazuo Komizu). Presented here for the first time with a brand new, digitally mastered anamorphic widescreen transfer from original vault materials, ENTRAILS OF THE VIRGIN is definitely not for the squeamish! Prepare to be shocked, offended, horrified and repulsed by every single frame of this unbelievable Japanese cult classic. Remember, you've been warned!SPECIAL FEATURES:
- New Anamorphic (1.78:1) Widescreen Transfer
- Original Uncut Japanese Language Version
- Newly Translated Easy-to-Read Removable Subtitles
- Animated DVD Menus
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Video Interview with Director Gaira
- Essay on the Japanese Film Fogging Controversy STARRING Saeko Kizuki Naomi Hagio Kazuhiko Goda Taiju Kato WRITTEN BY Gaira (Kazuo Komizu) PRODUCED BY Hiroshi Hanzawa and Toshio Sato DIRECTED BY Gaira (Kazuo Komizu)
Not Rated 1986 Approx 73 min. Color NTSC Dolby Digital Mono 1.78:1
ADULTS ONLY! CONTAINS SCENES OF EXPLICIT SEX AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE
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