Nikkatsu Roman Porno: Love Hunter (1972) - coming from Synapse

[McCrutchy]

Synapse will release another Nikkatsu Roman Porno title: Love Hunter (恋の狩人　ラブ・ハンター) (1972) on July 28th, 2020.

Original post with announcement:

[Show spoiler]It looks like Synapse will release another Nikkatsu Roman Porno title: Love Hunter (恋の狩人　ラブ・ハンター) (1972) as announced today by Don May, Jr. on Instagram:

Making the best of the work day, when not in the office. Still able to watch check discs. This is from our upcoming DVD and BD of Nikkatsu's LOVE HUNTER. Nikkatsu did a new HD master. It's significant in Nikkatsu's history because this film got a lot of folks involved (including the director and executives of Nikkatsu) arrested on obscenity charges. #gottakeepworking #socialdistancing

[bsend]

Love all of Synapse's work, but sometimes I feel like their focus on releasing specific titles is like a Golden Retriever. Fingers crossed we get some more of their announced releases.

[McCrutchy]

The Japanese DMM website has a listing for a 2007 Japanese DVD edition that has Nikkatsu's trailer attached. If you don't want to bother figuring out how to get the trailer to play (it's the silver button under the image of the DVD), then the best quality version is directly available at this link (NSFW), although the MP4 file may or may not download automatically.

[McCrutchy]

Release Date: July 28th, 2020:



The disc can be pre-ordered directly from Synapse here:

Impulse Pictures is proud to present THE NIKKATSU FILMS COLLECTION, a continuing series of critically acclaimed, classic “eroductions” designed to shock and titillate fans of Japanese erotic cinema.

Twenty-year-old Kazuo is in love with his college girlfriend, Hisako, but he can’t help but be intrigued by a mysterious older woman named Kyoku, a promiscuous woman unsatisfied with her marriage. As time goes on, both Kazuo and Hisako are pulled into the seemingly rules free, borderless world of Kyoku – with all of its many pains and pleasures. LOVE HUNTER is a landmark film in Nikkatsu’s history. Not only is it one of their earliest “Roman Porno” erotic productions, but it was so controversial for the time that director Yamaguchi and some executives of Nikkatsu Films were arrested. Employees of Eirin, the Japanese equivalent of the MPAA, were even indicted for allowing the release of this film! It took eight long years for all to be acquitted of the obscenity charges. Nikkatsu Films provided Impulse Pictures with a brand-new high-definition master of this unexpected and seductive classic.

Features

• Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
• Original Theatrical Trailer

[McCrutchy]

BDInfo scan:

                                                                                                                Total   Video                                             
Title                                                           Codec   Length  Movie Size      Disc Size       Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track                          Secondary Audio Track
-----                                                           ------  ------- --------------  --------------  ------- ------- ------------------                        ---------------------
00001.MPLS                                                      AVC     1:12:33 17,668,525,056  18,093,863,947  32.47   29.93   DTS-HD Master 2.0 964Kbps (48kHz/16-bit)

DISC INFO:

Disc Label:     LOVE HUNTER
Disc Size:      18,093,863,947 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BDInfo:         0.7.5.5

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00001.MPLS
Length:                 1:12:33.557 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   17,668,525,056 bytes
Total Bitrate:          32.47 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        29926 kbps          1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS-HD Master Audio             Japanese        964 kbps        2.0 / 48 kHz /   964 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /   768 kbps / 16-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           English         12.192 kbps                     

FILES:

Name            Time In         Length          Size            Total Bitrate   
----            -------         ------          ----            -------------   
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00002.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       jpn (Japanese)          4353.474                964                     524,691,300     3,267,196       
00002.M2TS      4608 (0x1200)   0x90            PGS             eng (English)           4353.474                12                      6,634,713       39,351

Original Theatrical Trailer

QUICK SUMMARY:

Disc Label: LOVE HUNTER
Disc Size: 18,093,863,947 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00002.MPLS
Size: 395,320,896 bytes
Length: 0:01:39.432
Total Bitrate: 31.81 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 29273 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 1.0 / 48 kHz /   911 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz /   768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitle: English / 22.655 kbps

[McCrutchy]

I watched this last night. Let's get the bad out of the way first. Because I never really owned any Roman Porno films on DVD (except one recent misadventure with a Japanese DVD) I never really watched them critically. So far, the only one I have watched all the way through prior to last night, Lady Karuizawa, was on a Japanese Blu-ray (back in 2016) and that disc did not have English subtitles, so all I could do was watch the images. Recently, I bought Fairy in a Cage (1977) after the announcement of Love Hunter (1972), but I decided to watch the earlier film, first. These are currently the only English-friendly Roman Porno Blu-rays of which I am aware.

So, I put on Love Hunter last night, knowing that it was one of the first Roman Porno films and that it got caught up in an obscenity trial in Japan. To be honest, though, even as I tried to put it in context, I was really disappointed by how tame this film is. Now, I am not someone who likes "rough stuff", and you can take "rough stuff" for all that implies, but this movie is surprisingly restrained and while it does tackle some subjects that were definitely "taboo" in the West in 1972, I am surprised that the Japanese authorities made a big deal out of this one. It is actually a kind of a basic "younger guy with girlfriend is seduced by an older woman" story, with the older woman here (Kyoko, played by Hidemi Hara) depicted as a nymphomaniac. The most interesting part of the film is

[Show spoiler]when an attempt is made to analyze how Kyoko became so sex-addicted. This flashback contains blatantly obvious incest and I can only assume that it is a large part of what rankled the Japanese police. Both in this scene and later in the film, an object like a thick cane with a doorknob on top is used to penetrate women, although in the incest scene, it is used by a man and unclear if it is consensual, while in the later scenes, female characters wield it, apparently with the goal of injuring the other woman. And while that description may sound intense, the way Love Hunter had to be filmed due to Japan's obscenity laws, means that you don't really see anything you wouldn't see in an R-rated film during these scenes, although the scene of incest does go on for a little while with lots of moaning. As usual, actual penetration is a total no-no, so the device is simply shown going between a woman's legs and then there is a cut to her face as she screams in pain (or perhaps, in some scenes, pleasure).

To be clear, there are definitely scenes that go well into NC-17 territory, with the best and most erotic of them being a phone sex scene with Kyoko, which sees her call her male cousin (who wants to marry her) and take sleeping pills (?!) before writhing all over her bed. During this scene, you get the best shots of Hidemi Hara's beautiful naked body (she uses both hands to obscure her genital area), and her performance is highly sensual and erotic. In the end, Kyoko has apparently masturbated to the point of needing to ice down her vulva, so her young lover, Kazuo (played by Ryūji Ōizumi, and surprisingly soft-mannered and gentle where so many Japanese films make this kind of character an arrogant, misogynistic douchebag) who has arrived in medias res, brings her the ice from an ice bucket and then, moments later, they start having sex.

Otherwise, the sex scenes here are pretty static and mediocre, although one earlier sequence involving Kyoko and some pretty androgynous partners (are they prostitutes or simply willing?) and a black guy who is massaging his backside for some reason is kind of interesting. There are also minor players who seem to wander in an out of the film for the purpose of orgy-style sex scenes and may or may not be the same ones who appear driving in a car at the 56-minute mark in a completely bizarre dialogue scene.

I don;t know if this will come off as too harsh on the film or make it sound boring, but while I was disappointed, it's not really a bad film. The acting is good and the performers really try to look like they're enjoying (or not enjoying) the "sex" successfully, even if a lot of the usual thrusting mechanics simply aren't happening. There are only two instances of optical censorship burned into the film itself, one of which is obscuring a woman's genital covering, and another at the end that looks like they burned or otherwise put some kind of black mark right over Kazuo's backside, for whatever reason. There isn't any further optical censorship on this Synapse disc, and that's a good thing as I could swear watching Lady Karuizawa that the Happinet Japanese Blu-ray has additional blurring effects added to the HD master.

As for the disc, while I don't think this is up to Synapse's usual superlative horror film Blu-rays, it's pretty good for a supplied master, especially given that these films were not exactly big budget to begin with. The picture has some tiny white flecks here and there and the color temperature seems a tiny bit cool, but overall, Love Hunter is definitely one of the best looking Roman Porno releases I've seen and looks as good as mainstream Japanese films from this era. The best news is that there is a lovely layer of grain throughout the image, so no digital tinkering has been done by Nikkatsu. The lossless mono track is good, too, perhaps a touch of distortion when there is a loud sound or music, but dialogue is clean and clear throughout.

The only extra is Nikkatsu's trailer for Love Hunter, which is also in 1080p with lossless audio and optional English subtitles. It looks and sounds pretty much just as good as the film, which is a treat as again, for many of these films, the trailers on Japanese websites or services are beat up or washed out.

Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase of the disc, and whenever I can find the solo TV time, I will watch Fairy in a Cage. I'm also looking forward to Synapse's upcoming release of Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls as well. Love Hunter is only the second Roman Porno title on English-friendly Blu-ray in seven years, so I hope they can and will release even more Roman Porno titles in the coming months.

[Killer Meteor]

Are the subtitles a) optional and b) in the film-frame fully, or spill into the black bar?

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Are the subtitles a) optional and b) in the film-frame fully, or spill into the black bar?

The subtitles are optional. I'll have to check my disc again to see the subtitle position, so I'll report back on that later.

[Dr. Seymour Love]

They’re in the film frame fully.

[Killer Meteor]

thanks!

[brainofj72]

Just watched this and was blown away by the transfer. This is as good as film grain and fine detail can get in 1080p IMO. Not to mention the rich black levels and carefully handled compression (there are so many moments with subtle gradations of light and color that could easily slip into posterization but never do). Fantastic work by Syn...err, Impulse here.

Really liked the movie too. I found it richly atmospheric with beautiful cinematography. It feels as if the whole film was shot in late autumn evening, with low, golden sunlight bathing every frame. Wonderful.

[Iron Grendel]

Is this release Region A "locked"?

[agentalbert]

Just watched this last night and enjoyed it. Thought the lead actress playing Kyoko was pretty sexy. I was surprised at the weird optical blurring in a few parts, though. One was subtle (kind of a gauze effect) but the other was a big black splotch that would have been covering up a man's ass at the end. Given all that was shown, I don't know what triggered this.

Had never heard the term "Roman Porno" before looking into this thread. So now I'm considering the other similar titles I see (Fairy In A Cage, Zoom Up: Murder Site, Flower And Snake). Are they similar in quality? Do they have optical burring in parts? I saw enough of what I wanted (sexy 70's ladies with no implants), but I absolutely get pissed off about censorship, so if optical blurring is prevalent on the other titles, I'll probably skip.

[Morriford]

Originally Posted by Iron Grendel

Is this release Region A "locked"?

Can anyone confirm this?

[logboy]

having had this since release, finally watched it (and 'zoom up : rape site'; released as 'zoom up : murder site') last night.

these RP are pretty scarce on BD in the west, so having seen some of the more appealing only as DVD releases, it's hard to see how either of these were considered worthy of BD instead. must be a matter of materials, or just plain misjudgment.

'zoom up' does at least have that bizarre use of inappropriate or clashing elements more akin to a horror film. it makes it more of an exercise in extreme ideas; the music and some other bits suggests possible giallo influences there.

'love hunter' has some very short beach sequences which are nicely shot. little else.

in all, the people in these seem somehow either very unfamiliar or very uncomfortable with sex. i don't remember always being the case with RP. it made these feel like a desperate move from a well-versed studio, rather than natural manoeuvre done with confidence.

i remember liking 'fairy in a cage' far more.

[Takuma]

Actually Zoom Up was one of the Holy Grail titles of Roman Porno: a mythical violent pink film that no one had seen since its theatrical release. Even Nikkatsu didn't have any kind of preview version to offer since the movie had never been transferred from film elements. Synapse did an incredible job saving it from the vaults. I literally ran home from school the day it became available to watch. Now the film itself of course didn't quite live up to its reputation (which was largely based on no one having seen it in decades), but I do think it's quite an interesting piece of genre history.

Love Hunter has its fans, but I think it's more interesting as a cinematic curiosity that brought not only the film makers but even Erin ratings board staff to court accused of distribution of illegal obscene material. That's quite in important chapter in Japanese film history, though probably had more to do with the loosening of censorship and morals in cinema (particularly the launch of the Roman Porno series a few months earlier) than this specific film.

The best thing that came out of it however, is the angry, poetic and ultra-political sequel Love Hunter: Lust (1973), which follows a stripper (anti-establishment icon Mari Tanaka) arrested for obscenity. It's a hugely interesting critique on the Japanese legal system, the hypocrisy of the authorities, and prejudice against anyone, particularly women, who challenge established conservative values. Though interestingly enough, the film also critically examines the naivety of the youth and the compromising nature of the anti-establishment. One of the best Roman Porno films, no doubt, and would make a great release for someone like Third Window or Radiance.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Takuma

Actually Zoom Up was one of the Holy Grail titles of Roman Porno: a mythical violent pink film that no one had seen since its theatrical release.

that's fine.

Originally Posted by Takuma

Love Hunter has its fans, but I think it's more interesting as a cinematic curiosity that brought not only the film makers but even Erin ratings board staff to court accused of distribution of illegal obscene material.

aware of this. it's an academic point, more the kind of thing i'd expect to see in a review or a extra.

as a reason to find the film worthwhile, it probably only serves as a possible way to delineate between this an many many other possible choices. as it is, the range in the west is so limited, arguably also relatively overwhelmed with mediocrities that it doesn't really serve any purpose to me.

i'd still rather see trailers for the ones that have been released in the past, or are now coming again, and get a sense of those that have interesting filmmaking, like ...

Originally Posted by Takuma

The best thing that came out of it however, is the angry, poetic and ultra-political sequel Love Hunter: Lust (1973), which follows a stripper (anti-establishment icon Mari Tanaka) arrested for obscenity. It's a hugely interesting critique on the Japanese legal system, the hypocrisy of the authorities, and prejudice against anyone, particularly women, who challenge established conservative values. Though interestingly enough, the film also critically examines the naivety of the youth and the compromising nature of the anti-establishment. One of the best Roman Porno films, no doubt, and would make a great release for someone like Third Window or Radiance.

this sounds more like it. not such a purely academic reasoning to want to see it. now, if someone would be certainly picking up things like this instead.

[Takuma]

Originally Posted by logboy

i'd still rather see trailers for the ones that have been released in the past, or are now coming again, and get a sense of those that have interesting filmmaking, like ...

Personally I wouldn't use trailers as reference since Nikkatsu's marketing department did everything in their power to hide any interesting film making. Nearly all of these films were sold for the sex film audience, because that's where the real money was, and it wasn't wise to scare away your core audience. The more ad materials you view the more obvious it comes, e.g. you've got a Roman Porno giallo or a police corruption tale and all the promotional stills are just nude photos of the actresses.

Some exceptions surely exist, but way more often than not this was the case, even for top directors.

Of course I wasn't around when these movies came out, but I do recall more than a decade ago going to (pink theatre) Shimbashi Roman Gekijo several times and whenever there was something more artistic and ambitious, like Trapped in Lust (1973), included in their triple features you'd get walk-outs and angry mumbling from some of the audience.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Takuma

Personally I wouldn't use trailers as reference since Nikkatsu's marketing department did everything in their power to hide any interesting film making.

all trailers are a marketing tool, and will require practice to interpret. after a lifetime of watching, i've not found a preferred technique for getting a taste of a film. writing doesn't do it. it feels illogical for everyday film appreciation.

it's accepted as somewhat normal now to deny trailers over allowing labels to curate what should be a personal desire or responsibility to seek what appeals to what we sense from many disparate possible choices. that is always odd if you expect to keep finding better films rather than sticking with what you've already found. perhaps this is because requiring a trailer suggests lack of prior knowledge, either of that film or of others which are widely known by others.

i don't reject the core appeal of RP, but i can't see the value if it's prioritised to the detriment of the handful of those within the catalogue that have more to offer that unexpectedly occurred along the way. just like japan overall; the production rate is high, the hit rate might be small, the surprises are always there to be found.

i don't think of the exceptions to how RP productions work are a deal breaker as much as they're a fascinating insight into how things went awry when there was a balance between studio requirements (frequency of sex scenes) with freedoms afforded to directors helping keep the very high rate of production of RP going.

generally, i'm searching for lesser-known films; i will not have necessarily known of a film for long, but if i can get a taste and can buy it, i will head there first. i'm using the key basic bits of info from one film of interest to point to others; names mainly. knowing a film exists, and having an affordable way to see it comes next; i won't often risk a purchase if the most widely-used historical technique for promotion is skipped.

i will make the leap from interest to seeing far more reliably if there's less barriers to sensing the final results in the way, and footage (even misleading) is far closer to the final film than any words could ever be.