| Massacre Gun (Limited to 3000 Copies) |
  | Starring: Jo Shishido, Tatsuya Fuji, Jir0 Okazaki Directed: Yasuharu Hasebe Release Date: April 7, 2015 Run Time: 89 Minutes Format: Blu-Ray Distributor: Arrow Video / MVDvisual | |
| Film Synopsis |
Genre icon Jô Shishido stars in this tense and violent yakuza yarn from genre stalwart and Seijun Suzuki’s former assistant, Yasuharu Hasebe (Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701’s Grudge Song).
Shishido stars as Kuroda, a mob hitman who turns on his employers after being forced to execute his lover. Joining forces with his similarly wronged brothers, hot-headed Eiji (Tatsuya Fuji, In the Realm of the Senses) and aspiring boxer Saburô (Jirô Okazaki, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter), the trio escalate their mob retaliation to all-out turf war where no one will stop until one faction emerges victorious.
Strikingly violent for the period and gorgeously photographed in monochrome like genre siblings Branded to Kill and A Colt is My Passport (Shishido’s other films from 1967), Massacre Gun is a bold iteration on the genre featuring some stunning compositions and the assured direction of Hasebe. – Arrow Video
| Audio/Video |
Audio Audio Language: Japanese The Sound Quality is pretty good. Dialogue is clear and the sound track or score sounds pretty good that conceits of horns, piano and upright bass. Rating: |
Picture Quality Disc Format: Blu-Ray The Picture Quality looks good in Black and White, Sharp Detail. Blacks look pretty good but could be a tad better. Only thing to complain about Is the White line that pops up every now and again, perhaps due to the films condition, maybe its some sort of damage. Rating: |
Note: Equipment used to watch the film can be found below
| Theatrical release Date: September 6, 1967 (Japan) |
| Blu-Ray Disc release Date: April 7, 2015 (USA) |
| Extras |
- Limited Edition Blu-ray (3000 copies only)
- Restored High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation, on Blu-ray for the first time in the world!
- Original uncompressed mono PCM audio
- Newly translated English subtitles
- Brand new interview with star Jô Shishido
- Interview with renowned critic and historian Tony Rayns
- Original theatrical trailer
- Gallery featuring rare promotional images
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
- booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, newly illustrated by Ian MacEwan and featuring original archive stills
| My Thoughts |
Massacre Gun is a Japanese film Noir that has dramatic lighting and Shooting styles that help make the film look more dramatic in some scenes. Lets not forget the Jazzy Score played through out. The film is full of Smart gangsters in Suits, Guns but no Katana’s.
The film is a good watch with some action but its more about its drama and story, Making the film a little slow. There are a few fight scenes that are hand to hand boxing style with a few boxers getting there hands broken by weights if the boss doesn’t like you.
Yes the film is slow but does bring some upbeat to it with fights, a guy getting an arrow like instrument shot through one of his fingers and the story is not bad. All of the gun fights come at the last 35 minutes of the film and before move on to the next paragraph, There is some nudity and the last scene is fun with smoke jumping from bodies when they are shot.
For me I wish The main Guys Brother who is a boxer had a better role like have him get some revenge, beating a someones face with his broken hands. Add some more gun play and make some of the guys more ruthless and the move for me would have been even better.
If you’re a Film Noir Fan, Japanese Cinema, Tatsuya Fuji fan who also stars in Stray Cat rock, Jo Shishido Who also stars in Shaw Brothers Film Asia Pol and or an Arrow Video Collector you might want to add this film to your collection. Overall the film is a tad bit over mediocre for me and was a good watch and maybe better on a sunny day. Happy to but this Japanese film Noir in my collection.
With that said I give Massacre Gun a 3.5 out of 5. Pick it up, check it out before its to late as there are only 3000 copies for this limited release.
| Rating – 5 Star System |
Film: PQ: Sound: |
|
| Trailer |
| Buy Film |
 | Blu-ray | |
| Prices are posted at time of review and most likely before release. Prices will or could have changed after this review. |
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This Film was Played on the listed Equipment below |
