Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Peter Mckain The woman in prison exploitation sub-genre doesn't exactly have the best reputation for example Bare behind bars and SS experiment love camp comes to mind but this is something different. Firstly It feels more like an art film by the way its shot. It uses interesting compositions and at lighting. The nudity in the film doesn't feel like its sexual well to me anyway maybe a sadist would see it differently. The initial rape scene in the film is done so it's not too graphic and hard to watch similar to the one seen in Lady Snowblood. On top of all that the writing is terrific, the motivation of the Sasori isn't revenge for the rape. It's revenge for the double crossing which drives her to put up with the struggles of prison life so that she might get out. What i love about the main character is that she hardly talks throughout the film and does all the communicating with her eyes. Which leaves you guessing what she will do next. The music is great and the movie is action packed with a satisfying ending the only part that didn't seem right was the random Lesbian scene which felt out of place but they justify it later. so give it a watch you won't be disappointed.

fertilecelluloid What's fascinating about the Scorpion (Meiko Kaji) character is her strength and resilience. She is not a traditional superhero with supernatural powers. She is a patient woman who doesn't forget. Her enemies are driven crazy by her incredible resilience. They can only wait in a state of misery for her inevitable revenge. This is the first "Female Prisoner 701" film and it's an exploitation classic. It provides standard WIP staples such as lesbianism, female nudity, cold brutality and escape sequences, but it rises to peaks way above its ilk because of its dazzling, theatrical surrealism and stunning lead performance. There is an extended torture sequence in which Scorpion is scalded by a hot light bulb while suspended; director Shunya Ito's staging of this is a testament to his rich, visual imagination and pitch black sense of humor. The reasons for Scorpion's imprisonment are detailed here, as are the origins of her personal conflict with prison authorities. A surreal, wild ride.

lazarillo A beautiful young woman is double-crossed by her corrupt cop boyfriend, raped by his Yakuza thug associates, and then--to add insult to injury--unjustly sentenced to a brutal women's prison. She becomes increasingly stoical, however, biding her time until she can have her revenge on all her enemies both in and out of prison.This is an enjoyable movie which manages to be both a WIP film and a rape-revenge film. It's also probably the best of the "Female Scorpion" series because it focuses more on the WIP elements while the later films are mostly rape-revenge (or eventually just revenge)movies. To be honest, I've never quite gotten the appeal of these female action movies. While some of their fans are female, the vast majority are men, and it's beyond me the masochistic thrill these guys get out of the "butt-kickin' babe"(personally I prefer women that do NOT beat me up, shoot me, or run me through with a samurai sword). Meiko Kaji's Female Scorpion character is in a class by herself though in that her strength comes not so much from her ability to dish out extreme punishment as to quietly endure it until she has a chance to turn the tables. The epitome of this is when she is she is strung up by the other prisoners (quite naked of course) and tortured with hot lamp bulb--Ouch! This is also the only film in the series where Meiko has nude scenes. They're pretty tame by WIP standards, but there are plenty of other naked Japanese girls (if you're into that sort of thing)including in one hilarious scene where the female prisoner "rape" a couple of male prison guards during a riot (poor bastards!). It's a matter of taste I guess, but I liked this better than the more famous "Lady Snowblood" (also with Kaji) and definitely better than "Kill Bill".

Scarecrow-88 When a female convict named Yuki has her period while escaping prison(with the prison guards in hot pursuit)you ought to know what you're getting yourself into. What makes the escape so funny is that the Warden(Fumio Watanabe)and his men are having a commendation ceremony for their success at rehabilitating the prisoners. But, Yuki isn't the female character whose dogged determination and stamina is questioned in this marvelously crafted exploitationer from the very talented director Shunya Ito. It's a Women in Prison film, through and through(women are often nude, prison apparel is often ripped off, there's a lesbian scene with a little ironic twist, the guards are sadistic, and the lead character does suffer greatly throughout), but make no bones about it, Ito is a real artist who establishes a style for camera theatrics that match the outrageousness of the material present in this ultra-violent feature.Meiko Kaji portrays Matsu, the other female trying to escape who will not bend to the Warden and apologize for trying to flee. He will try various ways to snap her impressive will. Something deep within, a quiet rage and longing hatred that fuels her unprecedented survival that would break the common person.The one providing that fuel is a former flame, Sugimi(Isao Natsuyagi)who is a corrupt narcotics officer in bed with a Yakuza crime family(dealing in marijuana). Sugimi used Matsu, who loved him wholeheartedly, to "infiltrate" the Yakuza family's den by way of a sting operation. She suffers a brutal rape, but that doesn't even match the betrayal of her love by Sugimi. She tries to gain retribution with an attack(using a butcher knife)on Sugimi, but is arrested and sent to prison where Matsu wiles away the time brimming with this unnerving will to make it through any turmoil that comes her way just for that moment when Sugimi's blood will be soaking in her hands.Matsu's trials at surviving the prison is well documented in this film as the Warden will continue time and again to try and break her stronghold of silence. He has a cook torment her in a dingy solitary, but Matsu, through uncanny cunning, causes the winch to trip and fall with a big pot of steaming rice splashing her in the face. The Warden sends his guards in to bury her with stick beatings(not to mention shots to her body with thrusting kicks). The Warden even tries a female spy who becomes her lesbian slave in a hilarious scenario. But, his final solution is to have Matsu(and the other female convicts)dig a massive hole and then fill it..night and day just for his hated rival to break. When tragedy strikes, a revolt ensues with guards being kidnapped and held hostage. Another element in the film is Sugimi's fear because as long as Matsu's alive, his partnership with the Yakuza stands in jeopardy. He coerces a convict, Katagiri(Rie Yokoyama)to assassinate her on the inside making it appear like an accident. The revolt that ensues gives her opportunity to possibly do just that.Will Matsu survive the prison torture and get her revenge? That question will get it's answer. Ito frames this film with lots of style and imaginative camera set-ups. He never lets the film drag and it is always exciting with excellent pacing. Ito really doesn't let the film ever ground itself realistically and plays with wild ideas such as the marvelously deranged sequence where the Warden gets his eye stabbed by a female convict trying to hurt Matsu(her face is in full Kabuki regalia with the bright light pointing out her unhinged desire to kill Matsu whatever the cost).