There are always new corners of cinema history to explore, and one very much worth investigating is the ’50s and ’60s output of Nikkatsu. The popular Japanese studio unleashed a wave of genre films, many of which are still unknown on this side of the ocean —"Retaliation," which has just arrived for the first time on home video, is ripe for discovery.
Directed by Yasuharu Hasebe ("Massacre Gun," "Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter") before he made his name as a sexploitation director, the film stars the great Jo Shishido ("Tokyo Drifter," "Branded to Kill"), Akira Kobayashi and Meiko Kaji. The gritty tale follows a yakuza lieutenant recently released from jail only to find his old boss dying and a rival who wants him dead. Things get up close and personal in this clip in which a knife fight gets bloody.
"Retaliation" is on Blu-ray right now, but you better get on it fast. It’s in a limited edition of 3000 copies.