Nora-neko rokku: Sekkusu hantaa

You don't necessarily expect to find social undercurrents in a film entitled Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter but that is what you get here. In fact it turns out that this sensational and very cool title is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things, as there is little evidence of sex hunters to be found here. No, the story actually considers the serious topic of racism, more specifically the effects of the occupation in Japan by American soldiers after the Second World War. This led to an increase in mixed race Japanese and it is the persecution of this ethnic minority which much of the plot is built around. A racist male gang called the Eagles, who go around in American army jeeps, terrorise anybody of mixed-race heritage. They are led by a character called the Baron whose racism stems from the knowledge that his sister was raped by black American GIs during the occupation years. This gang of thugs is opposed by a girl gang called the Alley Cats who assist a mixed race man who is trying to find his missing sister while being consistently beaten down by the Eagles.

This is a film which comes under the banner of Japanese exploitation films known as Pinky Violence. These films were essentially crime films which combined elements of sex and violence with a focus on sexy leading actresses. The queen of the genre was the very alluring Meiko Kaji, who stars here as the leader of the Alley Cats. She has fantastic screen presence and is a master of the cold stare. In this one she achieves this while often sporting a fabulously enormous hat. Like in all of these films she starred in Kaji is a major reason they are so good. This one isn't too salacious to be honest, especially taking into account what you might think given its title, although it admittedly does feature the rather awful idea known as a rape party. But its appeal lies mainly in other directions such as its psychedelic musical interlude and its stylish presentation. It also has a bit of a downbeat ending which leaves us with more questions than answers, which only illustrates further that this is pretty left-of-centre stuff. If I had to criticise, it would be to say that there probably wasn't as much girl gang action as I would ideally have liked. But all-in-all, I thought this was pretty good value.

You never really know what to expected with these early 70's Japanese Pinky Violence/Exploitation movies, but the absolute last thing I ever expected to find in a film lusciously entitled "Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter" was a socially relevant and thought-provoking allegory on topics such as racism, female liberation and brotherhood. There are a handful of "Stray Cat Rock" movies, but apparently "Sex Hunter" is the most widely available one and also the most superior one in the cycle. I'm certainly tempted to believe that, because what I saw was a compelling film from start to finish; - albeit with a exemplary crowd-pleasing elements like sexy eloquent girls, grotesque moments at comedy and kitschy musical interludes. Most bizarre, however, is the surprisingly low amount of explicit violence and gratuitous nudity. The main emphasis here lies on plausible story and the increasing tension between the rivaling gangs/sexes. The unearthly beautiful Meiko Kaji (later she became Japan's most successful exploitation actress thanks to "Lady Snowblood" and the "Female Prisoner: Scorpion" series) stars as Mako, the leading lady of an all-girls gang known as the Alley Cats. The girls are tough and independent, but they nevertheless still stand in the shadow of "The Eagles". They are a male gang, led by sadistic Baron and driving around the city in military jeeps. The Eagles are a bunch of racists, particularly against the half-bloods (the offspring of Japanese women and American WWII soldiers) who're allegedly stealing their women. The hard-boiled Mako is also falling in love with a half-blood, named Kazuma, but he actually came to town to look for his long lost baby sister. "Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter" turned out to be much more compelling, suspenseful and memorable than we (my fellow cinema mate and I) dared to anticipate. I love it when that happens! Director Yasuharu Hasebe may perhaps be most (in)famous for his downright deviant exploitation-porn movies, like "Assault! Jack the Ripper" and "Rape!", but this undoubtedly must be his best movie. Besides, if you're really looking for weird stuff, you'll still enjoy the inexplicably theatrical denouement and the numerously shameless attempts at product placement by Coca Cola.

Revered Grindhouse Maestro Yasaharu Hasebe's dynamically delirious, dizzyingly delicious, street fighting fillies fun-a-thon 'Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter' is yet another fiendishly fascinating, darkly downbeat, luxuriously lurid, freakishly freewheeling, thug-trashing thrill-spiller from The Nikkatsu Corporation. As always, the breathtakingly beautiful, exquisitely elegant, sartorially sublime sin-siren Meiko Kaji demonstratively makes for one of the most mesmerizingly magnificent mistresses of midnight mayhem that ever sultrily stalked the silver screen! Watch agog as these super-sexy, knife-sharp savages, led by slinky switch-blade sister supreme Meiko Kaji stridently slash their sweetly sinuous way into psychotronic celluloid history! With its fabulously furry fuzz-tones, kaleidoscopically crazy visuals, eye-poppingly hyperbolic mise-en-scene, and gut-punchingly stark conclusion, 'Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter' is a luxuriously lurid, heroically hard-rocking, glamorously girl-frugging gang banger that you won't want to miss!

I saw this DVD in the front of an independent video rental store. Judging by the cover, it seemed to be a Japanese version of Faster Pussycat. I took it home, popped it in, and the beginning seemed to confirm my suspicion. However, as the movie progressed, it told the story of a gang of teenage/young adult Japanese girls, and their interaction with a gang of xenophobic young Japanese men and their battles with those who are the offspring of Japanese women and US servicemen. A lot of violence perpetrated by the Japanese men, with the girls acting as peacemakers and protectors of the "half-breeds". Like all movies, it comes down to a violent confrontation, and not everyone will live to see the credits roll. All in all, if you are looking for a good non-mainstream movie, it is worth a viewing.

On the face of it, this is a very "violent youth" type of exploitation film but there are some very interesting social matters running through the film. It revolves around the relationship between Japanese, occupying Americans and the "half" offspring of the groups.

There are interesting contrasts. Baron's gang runs around in American military jeeps yet we see through flashback that Baron's hatred of "halfs" may spring from his sister being raped by a US serviceman. His gang sets up a "party" with foreigners but they are the most ugly and brutish types imaginable. We have these ugly stereotypes of whites on the one hand yet the soundtrack features an on-cameras role by the group "Golden Halfs", five attractive "half" japanese women.

This is all packaged in a fantastic Suzuki style "exploitation "film. Great use of color and composition mark the influence of the Seijin Suzuki style on the director Hasabe. A great film for any "Violent Youth" fans.