Blind Woman's Curse

Film Review by Alan Bett | 21 Mar 2014
Film title: Blind Woman's Curse
Director: Teruo Ishii
Starring: Meiko Kaji, Hoki Tokuda, Makoto Sato
Release date: 17 Mar
Certificate: 15

Blind Woman’s Curse opens in the most breathtaking fashion. A Yakuza Clan, tensed and snarling in torrential rain, synchronise to reveal a full dragon tattoo running across their bare backs, each one a single link of a greater whole, ready for attack. It’s visually stunning, more so because peeking scornfully from beneath her straw hat is the phenomenal Meiko Kaji, better known as Lady Snowblood or Sasori the Scorpion in the famous series. 

This is an earlier film, helmed by Teruo Ishii (Female Yakuza Tale) and filmed in his surreal/lunatic aesthetic. After blinding a woman with a misplaced sword swipe, Meiko is terrorised by a black cat ghost (kaibyo), her clan’s flatulent nemesis and a sinister hunchback with a mysterious and vengeful master. It’s too ridiculous to work but runs with enough cult cool to bewitch any viewer. A grotesque Japanese ghost story with Carry On humour and 70s sleaze, culminating in geysers of blood and an exquisite final face-off. [Alan Bett]

Released on DVD and Blu-ray by Arrow Video

http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk