Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs ( aka Zeroka No Onna: Akai Wappa)  is an early 70’s Japanese action thriller that is knee-deep in sleaze, violence, a mix of both, and lots of artery-spurting gore. The film is part of a small series of extreme exploitation films released by the prolific Toei Studios in the 1970s- going on under the banner of Pinky Violence, basically being an OTT mix of sex & violence. Here from Neon Eagle / Cauldron Films is a recent region A locked release of this sick, sleazy, and snappy puppy of a film. Taking in an intense and often blood-red seared  4k print of the film, a commentary track, and a few other things.

The film dates from 1974 and was directed by Gobô, Wakayama, Japan-born Yukio Noda. Between the late 60’s and early 90’s, he had a total of twenty-five credits to his name- four of these were a series of TV films, and the rest were feature lengths. Taking in a few 1970’s Shin'ichi Chiba films such as the undercover cop action film Gangster Cop, hitman-focused Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, and Kung  Fu Fighting OTT-ness of Soul of Chiba. He also seemingly made a sex worker documentary Sex Document: Kinpatsu Call Girl (1973)- though there seems to be little or no info about this.

The film kicks off straight away after the Toei Studios credit rolls- with a disco-dancing/ club scene as a leering white businessman watches a twenty-something woman getting it down on the dance floor. She joins him at the bar- he pours her a whiskey, she slugs it back, he pours another. Next thing we know the businessman is carrying in & undressing the woman into a bedroom- opening a case, which is full of ropes/ ties/ etc. She comes around looking at his passport- the man is a foreign senator, and she pulls out a picture of a naked, rope-tied, brutalized & dead woman confronting/accusing him of this murder- he just loudly laughs, and keeps coming at her. She whips out a pair of red handcuffs- these have a longer-than-normal chain and a larger neck-size cuff on one end she throws it lasso-like around his neck, shooting into his towel-covered genitals with a small red gun. This is the introduction to our lead Rei (Miki Sugimoto) an uncovered cop, who most certainly doesn't play by the rules.

As the main credits roll we see Rei has been sent to prison for her killing- seemingly spending the rest of the days there, with fellow inmates who are well aware she is a cop. We next switch to another prison to see the tall, balky, and matt-haired Yoshihide (Eiji Gô). Who straight away hooks up with his decidedly demented gang members- in broad daylight we see them attacking a couple chatting in a car. She is dragged out & gang raped by the nylon-tight masked gang, with the geeky boyfriend brutally & cruelly murdered.

The gang take the barely conscious woman back to their back alley hide-out, where we find the brash/noodle-eating sister of Yoshihide- who is seemingly taking the woman the gang bring into forced prostitution.  She recognises the woman- and identifies her as the daughter of a man who is running for government…so they decide to put a ransom on her head. 

So Rei is offered a release from prison, a pardon, and her job back- if she can take out the gang & get the politician's daughter back…and here my plot layout ends. Basically what unfolds is an extremely violent & sexualized action film- which races along like a bullet. Some of the most impactful/ memorable scenes include a brutal stand-up rape/ beating by a selection of sweaty & shit-stained pants men. A torture scene- which finds its victim getting his hand crushed in a vice, as his chest is seared by a welding torch, before being nearly drowned by having a water pipe forced into his mouth. I’ve watched/ reviewed a lot of extreme stuff on M[m], but even I was flitching with some of the stuff going on here- so I’d say approach with caution.

The whole thing resolves with an extremely brutal shoot-out in a wind/paper rubbish-battered vacant lot. All in all, this is one of the most intense/ brutal 70’s Japanese action films I’ve seen, and an all-around nasty/ sweaty exploitation ride.

The region A locked Blu-Ray features a 4k scan- this is a fabulous bold, bright, and well-defined affair, really making the whole thing sing/ be more intense.

On the extras side, we get two things- a commentary track from film historian Samm Deighan, and as we’ve come to expect with Ms Deighan it’s a well-realized track- with some great observations and details about the film.  She begins by declaring this is not only her favourite Pinky violence film, but her favourite Toei Studios release. She talks about how the film came towards the end of the pinky violence cycle- discussing the tropes it uses, and the additions it adds to these tropes.  We find out the film was based on a Manga comic by Tōru Shinohara- who is most known for the Female Prisoner Scorpion series.  She talks about the interest in feminist themes within the film, and points out notable supporting cast- mentioning other worthy roles. She discusses lead actress Miki Sugimoto, who was one of the key actresses in the Pinky violence genre.  Later on, she breaks down the themes of the plot, and much more.

Next, we have Sex + Violence (18.02) which finds TokyoScope author Patrick on the Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs. He moves from giving a rough rundown of the genre of the film fits in, and discussing the film in general. This is a good enough overview. Lastly, there’s an image gallery.
 

In plain/ simple words if you dig extremely sleazy/ disturbing genre films- with a fast pace, and pumping action heart Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs is a must. And it’s so wonderful to have this new Blu-ray release, with the bold and bloody print, and the great extras.