Horrors of Malformed Men

『江戸川乱歩全集　恐怖奇形人間』
Edogawa Rampo Zenshu: Kyoufu Kikei Ningen

Set in Taisho 13, Teruo Ishii’s singular Edogawa Ranpo adaptation is a classic of Toei’s exploitation horror, consummate in its embrace of the ero guro genre. Piecing together a selection of Ranpo’s works, notably Strange Tale of Panorama Island and The Demon of the Lonely Isle, Ishii’s bizarre cult feature begins in an asylum where Hirosuke Hitomi, a sane man with no recollection of his past, escapes the grounds of the sanatorium, tracing an eerie tune that might provide clues to his history. Taking on the identity of a deceased man—one who inexplicably resembles him—Hirosuke is drawn to a deserted island governed by the aberrant Jogoro, ferociously portrayed by butoh founder Tatsumi Hijikata. Jogoro possesses an insatiable desire to contort humans into new forms, and the island houses his dream for a new world—manifested through his experimental subjects. Macabre and brooding, Ishii’s transgressive Horrors of Malformed Men is a hallucinatory descent into madness, the rare Ranpo adaptation that truly evokes and evinces its author’s macabre sensibilities.

Dir. Teruo Ishii, 1969, 99 min. DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Teruo Yoshida, Tatsumi Hijikata, Yukie Kagawa.

Part of Taisho Roman: Fever Dreams of the Great Rectitude
December 9—16, 2023

Taisho Roman offers transgressive visions of Japan’s own belle epoque, featuring films from some of Japan’s most radical and outré filmmakers.

© 1969 Toei Co., Ltd.

Special Thanks to Bret Berg (AGFA); Laurence Braunberger & Frédérique Ros (Films du Jeudi); Mako Fukata; Beth Rennie (George Eastman Museum); Shun Inoue & Akinaru Rokkaku (Japan Foundation); Daniel Joseph; Carl Morano (Media Blasters); Rikako Kosugiyama & Jo Osawa (National Film Archive of Japan); Shuji Shibata, producer of Dogra Magra.

Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, David Toberisky, and Friends of Film. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film. Housing assistance is provided by the Kitano Hotel, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film.