History and Sensationalism Collide

Read Time:5 Minute, 5 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Love & Crime (Meiji · Taishô · Shôwa: Ryôki onna hanzai-shi)
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Genre: Horror, Drama, Thriller
Year Released: 1969, 2025 88 Films Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director(s): Teruo Ishii
Writer(s): Teruo Ishii, Shizuo Nonami, Masahiro Kakefuda
Cast: Teruo Yoshida, Rika Fujie, Kenjirō Ishiyama, Mitsuko Aoi, Takashi Fujiki, Yukie Kagawa, Sada Abe, Kichijirō Ueda, Eiji Wakasugi, Yoshi Katō, Akikane Sawa, Junko Maki
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Where To Watch: available January 21, 2025; pre-order your copy here: www.88-films.myshopify.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: LOVE & CRIME is a bold anthology directed by Teruo Ishii that reimagines infamous crimes with an unflinching eye. This collection captures human depravity through a vision that is as unsettling as it is compelling. The film transforms real-life history into dramatic retellings, often straying from the facts to amplify the shock factor. It is a series of stories that push boundaries and challenge viewers to confront the darker corners of history and human nature.

From the opening scene, the tone is uncompromising. A forensic doctor examines a corpse and reflects on past cases, setting the stage for four tales that explore betrayal, violence, and the extremes of passion. This narrative device weaves a fiber through the anthology, providing context while leaving room for the stories to unfold independently. The stark autopsy sequence that introduces the film is a visual declaration of its intent: to shock, provoke, and captivate. The grim nature of the opening sets expectations for a journey that will be both visceral and thought-provoking.

The first story dives into a tale of ambition and deceit. Set in 1960s Japan, it follows a hotel owner caught in a web of betrayal orchestrated by someone she trusts. Greed fuels the actions of a cunning assistant whose manipulative schemes unravel into violence and chaos. While the narrative is gripping, its fast pace sacrifices character depth for shocking moments. While effectively keeping viewers engaged, this trade-off leaves a sense of untapped potential in exploring the story's emotional stakes.

The second segment explores a passionate affair that leads to a grotesque act of violence. By spotlighting the life and actions of a woman driven to the extremes, the story seeks to balance an empathetic portrayal with its sensational elements. What sets this part apart is the inclusion of an actual interview with the individual at the center of the crime. This adds legitimacy and raises questions about the ethics of presenting such material in an exploitative format.

Breaking from the female-centered focus, the third story shifts to the crimes of a male serial killer. This segment delves into the calculated brutality of a man who preys on the vulnerable. His heinous acts are narrated through fragmented memories, painting a chilling portrait of his psyche. While the visual style enhances the grim atmosphere, the segment’s inclusion disrupts the anthology’s continuity, as it diverges from the broader exploration of women’s roles in these stories.

The anthology closes with the tragic tale of Oden Takahashi, a woman whose life spirals into betrayal and desperation. As the last woman executed by beheading in Japan, her story carries an inherent gravity. The segment’s short runtime reduces it to shocking events rather than a fully realized narrative. However, the visual impact of her execution and the emotional weight of her plight leave a lasting impression, serving as a somber conclusion to the film’s exploration of violence and justice.

One of the film’s strongest elements is its visual storytelling—Ishii masters tone and composition, using stark contrasts and detailed close-ups to evoke unease and intrigue. Solid performances throughout help elevate the material, grounding even the most exaggerated scenarios in a sense of reality.

The film is essential in the landscape of exploitation cinema. Produced in the late 1960s, LOVE & CRIME reflects the era’s fascination with ero guro, a genre that thrives on the intersection of eroticism and grotesque imagery. Ishii’s direction pushes the boundaries of what can be depicted on screen, using the film to provoke, challenge, and disturb.

For those willing to embrace its excesses, LOVE & CRIME offers a haunting and imperfect experience. The film’s imagery, provocative themes, and audacious storytelling make it stand out in its genre, even as its flaws keep it from reaching its full potential. Both a reflection of its time and a precursor to modern explorations of true crime, it is a bold and unsettling examination of humanity’s darker impulses.

Bonus Materials:
HIGH-DEFINITION BLU-RAY PRESENTATION IN 2.35:1 ASPECT RATIO
ORIGINAL MONO 2.0 AUDIO WITH NEW ENGLISH SUBTITLES
AUDIO COMMENTARY BY JASPER SHARP & AMBER T.
BRAND NEW FILMED INTRODUCTION BY MARK SCHILLING
STILLS GALLERY
TRAILER
ORIGINAL AND NEWLY COMMISSIONED ARTWORK BY ILAN SHEADY
LIMITED EDITION INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED OBI STRIP
LIMITED EDITION BOOKLET

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[photo courtesy of 88 FILMS, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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