★★★★☆ "Wanted for the murder of 8 police officers, 3 prison breaks, and 28 attempts…She's evil incarnate!" This is how a detective describes Nami Matsushima (the iconic Meiko Kaji), better known as Matsu, or by her semi-mythic prisoner name 'Scorpion', by the time the fourth film in this quick-fire franchise rolls around. All released in 1972-73, the quartet of Female Prisoner Scorpion films starring Kaji are what happens when an ambitious young director with verve and something to say tackles otherwise rote exploitation material. Based on Toru Shinohara's manga series, Shunya Ito's films apply arthouse flourish to the conventions of women-in-prison genre flicks with the same relish as Matsu slices at her tormentors with a handily concealed shiv.
- 8/10/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
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