Shocking Asia III: After Dark

I saw this because I own the first 2 on DVD. I won't be owning this one.

I lived in Japan for years and I can say this is all probably true. However, it's also widely known. So why put it on film? Because of the insatiable curiosity of guys like me.

This was basically a Japanese XXX flick disguised as a documentary. It wasn't even made by the same people. They just packed a lot of the local dirty businesses into a format that seemed respectable.

I hope they don't make a 4. It wouldn't be worth it. It's better to travel instead.

Or rent "In A Week" or "A Day Of Love" (if you can find them) instead.

Plot

A mondo film mainly focusing on Japanese sex shops, sex clubs and brothels.

Cast

Not familiar with anyone involved.

Verdict

I didn't like the first two Shocking Asia "Documentaries", why watch the third? I'm a completionist by nature plus I hoped after a decade they'd have improved! Did it, no it really didn't it just arguably got seedier.

You see one of my biggest gripes is that they're simply not documentaries, they're "Mondo" exploitation films focusing on the extremes of a continents cultures and making out this is common practise. The vast majority of people staring in awe have never been to asia and will get completely the wrong idea and hence why this is exploitation and exists for shock value alone.

Though the other two focused on multiple areas this one really does get seedy and looks almost exclusively at porn, the sex industry and adult themes as a whole. Therefore it feels less like a documentary and more like an adult film dressed up as something more.

Shocking Asia are very poor quite frankly offensive films that I refuse to call documentaries, they're outdated and absurd so the fact they flowed into the 90's is remarkable.

Rants

To be fair are there any documentaries these days that aren't exploitative in some form? Most are heavily bias and tell you what to think rather than presenting you with the full story. Left wing, right wing, peddling an agenda or simply propaganda and it's tiresome. A film like this has no agenda and just aims to shock so it's less offensive bafflingly. I miss documentaries, they barely exist anymore.

The Good

Has a couple of interesting moments

The Bad

Pure exploitation Not a documentary Shock value only.

"Shocking Asia 3" isn't too outrageous considering its subject matter,but it's pretty sleazy as we are visiting Japanese sex shops,brothels and night clubs.There is some strong sex(nearly hard core)on display,body piercing etc.This shockumentary is set mostly in Japan-I'm still pretty amazed that Japanese people,albeit really hard-working and kind,can be also so extreme.I'd love to visit this brilliant country one day.To sum up,if you like mondo give this one a look.

The scenes are real and may be shocking to some indeed, even after 20 years. The nightlife, and especially the sex-scene of Japan is explored with nothing censored. There are some scenes from other countries as well, namely Thailand, and I believe Myanmar.

Prostitute-client encounters are shown several times, and so are some rare fetishes.

Unlike other 'shock films', such those from Italy ( Cannibal Holocaust), this one was entirely shot on real subjects and not actors. This is what gives it unique value.

It is a hard-to-find piece, but if you can get your hands on a copy, do it. You won't regret it