Shudojo: Nure nawa zange

Nunsploitation would seem to be more of a European thing, but the Japanese decided to have a go too, and Wet and Rope is one of the results. Asian cinema is often remarked upon for its bizarreness, and after having seen this film; I've got to say that isn't surprising...in the least! Quite what the hell the point of this film is, is anyone's guess, as all the sleazy elements on display don't mean a thing to one another, thus making the film merely a collection of oddities, united one very thin plot line. The story (if you can even call it that) follows a young woman who tries to commit suicide after being thrown out by her husband. After being saved by a priest, she is recruited into his convent...where all the nuns are more pervy than your average whore! The film features a lot of sex, some of it featuring things like masks, bread rolls and (wait for it) sheep costumes! I actually can't believe there was a time when I found lesbian sex out of the ordinary...it's the norm in films like these! It really is hard to take this film seriously, but it's not a complete dead loss as watching the events unfold is often very funny, and fans of wayward cinema are likely to get a kick out of it. Overall, I can't say that this is a favourite of mine...but it's just about worth seeing.

WET & ROPE is another of the notorious Japanese pink eiga movies. These were softcore dramas that extensively pushed on-screen depictions of sexuality to the limit. This film's not as powerful or violent as some, but it's still frequently unpleasant. It begins with a woman walking sorrowfully through the woods before we flashback to her home life, which is interrupted by a gang of raping goons. Later she's rescued by a priest and taken to a nunnery, but this is the kind of place that you see in the likes of Jess Franco movies. Expect wall-to-wall couplings, extensive nudity and some truly bizarre moments involving animal costumes.

A lovely young lady goes from marriage to cliff jump suicides edge after thugs break into her home and rape her on her wedding night. Unable to deal with the shame her husband kicks her out (an honour thing I guess though it seems like a straightforward dick move to me), and just as all seems lost a friendly abbot recruits her to a convent. Here she settles in to a quiet life of worship and contemplation, the rest of the film playing out as a restrained and respectful treatment of convent life and the religious way. I'm yanking your chain of course, as one might expect from the title this is pinku territory. What one might not expect is how fun the film is and not just fun in a "laugh at all the degradation and weirdness" way, but intentionally amusing. Director Koyu Ohara adopts an approach to this nunsploitation film that owes more to Bunuel (albeit a rather perverse Bunuel) than it does the likes of Flavia the Heretic, he is critical, but more concerned with oddball comedy than he is grim shock tactics. The convent our heroine finds herself in is something of a hotbed for lust and corruption, it has made a pretty poor job of withdrawing from secular concerns and perversions. We get cruciform poses during sex, bread masturbation alongside prayer, money woes and a gangster in hiding and much of it is in a spirit of good fun. The women are beautiful (leading lady Yuki Nohira is a particular delight) and there's a fair amount of nudity, a little abuse but nothing too elaborate, and the film zips along nicely. Tensions do build though, as various higher ups prove to be pretty slimy customers and everything builds to a completely bonkers and pretty darned funny climax. As with the other pinkus that I've seen so far, this one didn't completely hold my attention, it is never boring but my mind did wander and I expect it wasn't supposed to, I don't whether its a problem with the film or just me but it is worth saying. On the other hand, this is probably the most fun that I've had with the genre so far and even the most accomplished I've seen. Ohara directs with real vision, vision that goes beyond twisted characters and crackpot sleaze. Memorable images are well spread throughout, and he gives the convent a clean, reverent look that contrasts very well with the shenanigans within. There's a great sense of hustle bustle where needed as well, he has a good handle on action when it gets more kinetic. The proof of his skill comes I think at a point where the dreaded Japanese beaver blockers appear and are irritating more for ruining the symmetry of the shot than the eroticism. Nothing more to say really, but if you dig this kind of cinema give this one a look pronto, its quite a winner.

Not as one might assume from the title, a bondage movie, but even more strangely, a Japanese nunsploitation. Told gleefully, as if by Bunuel, this torrid little saga begins with a wedding. But be not mislead, before the marriage can be consummated, baddies break in and tie up Mr, forcing him to watch the vigorous rape of Mrs (who doesn't seem too put out). She's upset afterwards though because her man prevents her from phoning the police lest his reputation be destroyed, and casts her out the house. Needless to say she ends up in a convent getting more of the same. Lots of sex, some bondage and whippings but best of all a glorious orgiastic climax with the star of the show taken from behind dressed as a lamb by a business man in a mask.

A young woman gets raped by three thugs on her wedding night while her husband is forced to watch. He then tell her to leave because his honor has been violated. Our poor gal goes to the ocean to drown herself but a priest stops her and convinces her to enter his convent. Every nun is of course (like in most Euro Nunsploitationers) obsessed by masturbation and sin. A wounded gangster seeks refuge in her room and she 'heals' him. Later she and a horny sister goes to a disco and meet some dancing studs and it ends in an orgy. She also fools around with the priest while a weird servant/sex freak licks the toilet bowl!?!. In the most bizarre scene of the film, the convent needs to raise money so they invite some sleazy business men who wear negro masks while watching our heroine getting raped on the alter in a bunny suit which turns everybody on and an all-out orgy unfolds - all in the celebration of St. Animals Day!?!

Compared to other Japanese Shock Videos, this one is more silly than nasty but definitely a must for psychotronic addicts of the exotic and deranged.