Joshuu 701-gô: Sasori – 1972
Director
Shunya Ito

Writers
Fumio Kônami
Hirô Matsuda

Cast
Meiko Kaji
Rie Yokoyama
Isao Natsuyagi

Review by Zetes

Awesome Japanese exploitation flick,

Violent, sick, cruel, and completely sadistic – what more could I ask for? Starring Meiko Kaji, who would go on to the Lady Snowblood films the next year, this women in prison movie simply dazzles. Ito’s direction is fantastic, and in some ways resembles that of Suzuki Seijun.

It’s funny that such great filmmaking is found in a w.i.p. movie, a sub-genre usually reserved for sloppy, direct-to-video work today. Just think, a direct-to-video movie really could be well made. There is an unfulfilled market here. Yet people just keep cranking out the same cliched garbage – an utter waste.

The genre in America is too tame when you look at FP701. Actually, I’d almost say that this comes close to being the best prison movie ever made, approaching masterpieces like Don Siegel’s undervalued Riot in Cell-Block 11 and Stuart Rosenberg’s beloved Cool Hand Luke. Hell, Prisoner 701 makes Cool Hand Luke look like a total pussy.

This movie is an absolute must-see for those who love Japanese films, exploitation, or cult movies in general. I’d go so far as to call it a masterpiece in its own way. I loved every damn second of it! 10/10.