Hanzo:The Razor

Sword of Justice

Madman Entertainment

R4 DVD

Hanzo:The Razor is a series of films which offer some of the strangest entertainment you can think of. In Hollywood cinema no famous actor would appear in such a cult spectacular and yet in Japan, Shintaro Katsu, star of Zatoichi, appears as Hanzo.

"Razor" Hanzo Itami isn't your typical Edo cop; he is honest for one thing and for another he has a healthy contempt for authority. To appreciate the torture he is required to use on his suspects, he tries it out on himself and uniquely to Hanzo, he uses martial arts training to strength his weapon. Yes, “that” weapon. He hits his dong with a piece of stick, pokes it into bags of rice and trains it as another tool in his fight against corruption. He routinely uses it to interrogate female suspects, who in the end beg for more.

This is a truly astounding piece of exploitation cinema - sex, violence, corruption and police drama all mixed together with a soundtrack that comes right out of the 1970’s. This is a Japanese Shaft. Outrageous, politically incorrect and at times downright bizarre, this is a series for any devotee of cult cinema.

Madman Entertainment have released the first of the Hanzo series, Sword of Justice and it is a must have title.

The first film in the series finds Hanzo in big trouble with his boss. He not only refuses to sign the oath of office but abuses his superiors and accuses them of taking bribes. He becomes suspicious of their motives and begins an investigation, as he works through the suspects (with an abundance of sex and violence), he follows the chain to the top.

His success in uncovering corruption comes from his unique interrogation technique. The “long arm of the law” can be taken literally here as he drives women mad with desire to get his confession. Techniques range from the simple bump and grind to spinning a suspect in a net around his mighty weapon !

This is absurd exploitation cinema at its best, a dark moody view of the world, sex, violence, Seventies music and a sense of play which make it all seem like just good fun. Sure, some people are going to be horribly offended by the heady mix of sex and violence and this will include the conservatives and the feminist crowd. However, there is a sense of play in this film which takes it outside simple exploitation cinema and gives it a wider comedic appeal, at least for the open minded. Madman is also releasing a boxed set of all three films.

A must see cult experience.