Irezumi [2007]

It is a strange review (as below) which claims that this film has no bite. Perhaps they were looking for something closer to the exploitation films of Meiko Kaji. This is a different beast entirely. A dark tragic story and as quoted on the cover "A very special piece of art".Ayako Wakoa is outstanding as the spirited daughter of a trader who escapes the confines of her stuffy life to be entraped again, this time as a geisha. The forced tattooing of a vicious female spider on her back consumes her and the tattoo seems to become her. She now sucks the souls of men, entices them in and leaves them with nothing.Wakoa was so believable in this picture that I was shocked to see an entirely different character in Red Angel, another of her combined efforts with new wave director Yasuzo Masamura.This is a tragic tale in the Greek sense, someone who could have had it all, losing it all because of their own characteristics.The film is not brooding. It moves along well and holds your attention. The visuals are outstanding, especially the image of the beautiful geisha with the fearfull spider on her back, such a breathtaking juxtaposition.

bit disappointed

This came with a different certificate than Amazon advertised and the toned down version lacked bite.