Rating: C
Dir: Toshiharu Ikeda
Star: Mari Shirato, Jun Etō, Kentarō Shimizu, Seiji Miyaguchi
Considering the director, this is almost disappointingly restrained. The potential is there for a rip-roaring tale of revenge. But the story seems more interested in sitting around and moping for the first hour, before suddenly remembering, “Hey, this is by the guy who did Evil Dead Trap. Shouldn’t there be a bucket-load of arterial spray?” While this does show up, it may be the very definition of too little, too late. It comes with a large side-order of a strong anti-nuclear message, which likely isn’t surprising, considering Japan hasn’t exactly had the best history with the atom. And this pre-dates the whole unfortunate Fukushima thing. Again though: not exactly why I’m here.
We begin in a small seaside town, where Migiwa Saeki (Shirato) works with her husband Keisuke (Etō), diving for abalone. However, their way of life is threatened by the unusually-named Kinki Electric Power company. They want to set up a nuclear plant, but knowing this would be controversial, are buying up land under the front of a proposed amusement park. After Keisuke witnesses an opponent of the scheme being murdered, he must also be removed from the picture. They also want to get rid of Migiwa, but she escapes with the help of family friend Shouhei (Shimizu). She finds a refuge on Watakano Island, working in one of the local brothels, until one of her clients confesses his role in Keisuke’s murder. Cue the arterial spray! (top)
Things go from zero to a hundred pretty damn quickly thereafter, Migiwa tooling up for an assault on the company’s celebration of construction getting under way. I have to say, Japanese security doesn’t appear up to much, being unable to repel one pissed-off diver with a home-made spear. There’s also some suggestion of divine – or, perhaps, supernatural – help, in the shape of a Buddha statue, with which Migiwa interacts, and the ending will definitely make you go “Oh”, or “Huh”. It’s a shame none of this showed up earlier, as it would have enlivened what I’d call a pretty tedious first hour. This is more like an episode from Lifestyles of the Moist and Drunken, followed by a couple of surprisingly steamy sex sequences in the brothel [albeit blurred, in deference to Japanese morality].
I was also a little disappointed by the lack of mermaid. It appears Migiwa is nominally in that role, and there is one scene where her watery talents – in particular, her ability to hold her breath – does come in useful, when taking vengeance on the head of Kinki. I’d have been down if this had been extended, ruthless pursuing the other executives through similarly aquatic means. Wherever there is water, there she is. Instead, it’s a prosaic and, to be honest, wildly implausible attack, which tries to make up for in enthusiasm, what it lacks in credibility. I’m reminded that Evil Dead Trap, also suffered from poor pacing, and basically skated by on atmosphere. Much the same goes here.