Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion

1972, 87 min., digibeta, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Shunya Ito. With Meiko Kaji, Rie Yokoyama, Isao Natsuyagi, Fumio Watanabe. Print courtesy of Media Blasters with permission from Toei Co., Ltd.

“This film is a true genre classic.”
– Chris Nelson, Dreamlogic.net

Stabbing. Shooting. Scalding. Raping. Rioting. Feral sapphic sex. Beating. Burning. And copious amounts of female nudity. Shunya Ito’s  film set the ultimate template of the "Women In Prison" (W.I.P.) movie genre. Expertly riding the fine line between arthouse imagery and car crash-like anti-aesthetics, the storyline of Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion follows the quest for vengeance of Nami Matsushima, an unjustly imprisoned woman, to whom Meiko Kaji lends her unique star presence. Used, abused and betrayed by her first love, a corrupt cop, “Matsu”, endures a variety of exotic punishments that would make even Cool Hand Luke cry, and eventually becomes “Sasori” (Scorpion), a byname for vengeance. 

Prepare yourself for lock-down, this is sexploitation cinema at its most ferocious and classiest, easily transcending the B-film revenge-tale that serves as its pretext.  Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion spawned three direct sequels, a pair of spin-offs, and a 2008 Hong Kong-Japan co-produced remake.

18+
This film is unrated, but may only be viewed by persons 18 years of age or older.

Part of the Globus Film Series:
Mad, Bad…. & Dangerous to Know: Three Untamed Beauties

Tickets
$11/$7 members, students & seniors

Buy Tickets Online or please call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.