Hitozuma shudan boko chishi jiken

Director Noburo Tanaka was a prolific director of "pink films" throughout the 1970's, but unlike many other creators of these sex themed films, Tanaka strived for more than exploitation. For he was an artist, as can be seen when watching such titles as "Watcher In the Attic," his unforgettable "Midnight Fairy," and this film, concerning a man who befriends 3 violent, sex obsessed boys, who take advantage of his trust by assaulting his wife. There isn't a lot of actual "sex" in "Rape and Death of A Housewife," and much of the sex is really not meant to be sexually arousing. Instead Tanaka goes to great lengths to give depth and dimension to the characters, which is something unheard of in this genre. So much detail is paid to the story at hand that the viewer might forget that they are watching a 'pinku eiga." At times funny, and sometimes sad, but always interesting study of misfits and anti-social behavior.

Noburo Tanaka is a really good director and his films tend to be quite good. With that said Hitozuma(...) is by far one of his less impressive efforts. The film is a bit longer than it needed to be, but it makes sense since it is not a pinku but a Nikkatsu production. The acting is uneven. Some of the actors are convincing enough. Noriko Kurosawa however comes off really bad in it. What really bothered me however, was the moralistic tone the movie has (similarly with (Maruhi) shikijô mesu ichiba by the same director). It's a decent film but i would recommend watching Angel Guts Nami instead to see Noboru at his peak.