Zankoku ijô gyakutai monogatari: Genroku onna keizu

Teruo Ishii directs another anthology of tales of sexual depravity and torture in Tokugawa era Japan. All manner of nastiness is on display, including a rousing game of human pinatas, and a scene where a topless woman whips a pair of midgets bloody with a riding crop. The climax sees a group of bulls with flaming torches strapped to their horns being stampeded into a room full of courtesans wearing red dresses. Brilliant.

Teruo Ishii might be the Marquis de Sade of Japan. His critique of the feudal times is focused on the depravity of the ruling class which for him shows best in sexual perversions. It has the usual exploitation dilemma meaning: How can you criticize amorality when your movie depends on showing it in the most spectacular manner? But this only brings the first episode down with its underwritten female character. Episode 2 and 3 are serious bangers.