Yakuza Law (1969) User Reviews

Gory tales of death and dishonour in the Yakuza.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 18 May 2007]

In the violent world of the Yakuza, if you break the rules then you must pay the price. Since this usually involves the removal of a body part with a sharp knife or sword, or even a hideous death, members of these bloodthirsty Japanese crime families had better think twice before screwing over their pals.

Spanning several centuries, starting in feudal japan and ending in the present day (ie. the late 1960s), Yakuza's Law:Lynching consists of three stories all dealing with betrayal and punishment within the Yakuza system. These tales are rather mundane in nature but are lifted by some wonderfully gruesome acts of brutality.

In the first two segments, fingers are removed, eyeballs and tongues are cut out, and sword slashes result in fountains of blood. In the last segment, the modern day Yakuza get creative, dragging victims along by helicopter, encasing them in cement, and crushing them in car compactors.

I consider the jazz-scored groovy last section to be the best of the stories, since it also has a rather sleazy feel to it, with sexy babes also involved in the nasty goings on. On the whole, I certainly wouldn't class this movie as essential viewing, but it should be of interest to fans of Japanese cinema, crime films, and, of course, gory exploitation flicks.

torture and gore

[trashgang · 7/10 · 27 June 2012]

Three stories for the price of one all concerning Yakuza and their laws. Just watch the opening credits that is full with torture and gore. Looked great from the start and it did for the first two stories taking place in old Japan. the last story takes place in the time being, the sixties.

But was I surprised for such an old movie that it contained so much blood and gore and even a bit of nudity. As I said, the first two parts are the best with a lot of fights going on and torture. Of course there are a few editing effects used but still the removal of an ear and the eye poking are gruesome to watch. In the last part we don't have katana's but guns so the torture is a bit different but the helicopter scene is still horrible.

Overall the acting was also good and for such an old flick the use of lighting was also well done. One of the earlier Japanese violence flicks and surely one to pick up. It also gives you an inside look into the Japanese way of living and traditions. Available on Shock DVD full uncut and uncensored.

Gore 3,5/5 Nudity 1/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

tedious anthology film devoted to gruesome torture

[daustin · 3/10 · 6 January 2005]

Didn't like this one very much. It's an anthology film, with three chapters, progressing from what appeared to be the Tokugawa Shogunate, to Meiji era, to the 60's (can't be positive about any of the time periods).

Basically the flimsy plots are just an excuse to have Yakuza commit brutal acts on each other and throw lots of fake blood around. I can see how this may have been shocking or trail-blazing at the time of release, but I found it quite boring now. Without the shock value, the movie really has no center. The stories get progressively better - the first (amazingly, starring Bunta Sugawara, who usually improves anything he's in) is terrible, the second and third are slightly better.

Sidenote - the actor who plays the alien in Goke has a small role in the final piece as a weird yo-yo obsessed Yakuza.

Another Good Japanese Torture Film

[EVOL666 · 8/10 · 2 April 2006]

YAKUZA LAW: LYNCHING! is one of the latter films in Teruo Ishii's JOYS OF TORTURE series, and is honestly the only one I've had the chance to see as of this writing. It is a strong entry that deals with the subject of Yakuza principles, and the penalties for not abiding by their codes.

The film is divided into three parts - the first two taking place in feudal Japan, the last segment being more "modern" and set in the late 1960's. All three deal with those that have broken the Yakuza code, and their subsequent torture and dispatch. The last part is played more like a 70's style crime film, and feels somewhat mis-matched against the other two segments - but is still an enjoyable addition to the film.

There's plenty of violence in this one for those that are looking for that - a good bit happening before the opening credits are over. I think that this one will be of interest to most who enjoy the 60's/70's era samurai/pinky films. Strangely enough - there's no actual lynching taking place. There is a scene where a guy is hung (by his torso) from a helicopter and dragged around a beach - but I don't think that really qualifies as "lynching". Not as strong as the "unofficial sequel" to Ishii's first JOYS OF TORTURE film - SHOGUN'S SADISM (aka OXEN SPLIT TORTURE) - but definitely in the same vain. LYNCHING! is definitely worth a look to Japanese exploit fans. 8/10

Extremely poor Yakuza film

[Falconeer · 3/10 · 7 November 2016]

I have seen other films of Teruo Ishii, including his torture films like "Orgies of Edo," which I liked immensely. This Yakuza genre film however, lacks the artistic merits of those other films. It also lacks a coherent or interesting story-line, offering only cheap and ugly gore effects. There are actually 3 stories told in one film, which is the same formula Ishii used for "Orgies of Edo." Unfortunately the stories were so insipid and uninteresting that I couldn't tell when the first one ended and the second began. This film really has nothing to offer, and it is the worst film of it's kind that I have seen. It is a waste of time.

Intelligent, experimental and brutal gangster anthology that has stood the test of time

[kluseba · 9/10 · 22 September 2020]

Yakuza Law is an anthology that portrays three different stories abot organized crime in Japan. The three stories are presented in chronological order as they take place during the Edo period, followed by the Meiji period and finally present-day Japan when the movie was released. The title is quite ironic since the three tales portray that the common laws don't matter to organized crime syndicates and that they even break with their own conventions when conflicts are at hand.

This movie has aged quite well since the three tales portray their respective periods in authentic fashion. The cinematography is quite vibrant with dynamic cuts and zooms. The film's pace is frantic without lacking depth. The three different tales offer suprisingly profound conspiracies with a few intersting twists and turns. This movie is also quite violent as all tales end in sinister confrontations. This shouldn't come as a surprise as the opening credits already portray grisly torture sequences.

In the end, Yakuza Law finds a surprisingly timeless balance between brutal special effects, intelligent plots and dynamic cinematography. Veteran director Ishii Teruo offers one of his most concise films that features numerous skilled veterans such as prolific actor Sugawara Bunta and television star Miyauchi Hiroshi. If you like brutal gangster movie without wanting to sit through the extensive length of contemporary Western cinema, then you should certainly give this overlooked gem a try.

The Roots Of Yakuza Law

[D00003385 · 9/10 · 6 May 2005]

An awesome film for the most part. Reminiscent of 'Casino' and 'Zatoichi' in its nature. Necessarily Violent as it depicts Yakuza law of an old-school variety.

This film is a great watch for those interested in old and new Yakuza films! This film is violent, i say this comparing it to newer Yakuza films & also the films in general circulation. This may look a bit out of date because it was the 70's but it's still pretty grim. Those bored by this should definitely be ashamed to write such off the ball reviews. I found the earlier eras covered to be more entertaining as i have not seen much of this before & i enjoy Gordon Liu and Zatoichi films too. I would say it is a must see Japanese Yakuza film along with 'Street Mobster' and 'The Yakuza Papers: Battles Without Honour Or Humanity'.

Relentless in places, baring likeness to old martial arts films ('Zatoichi' for the swords)... Good for people who don't mind the 70's style of film and even if you don't but like newer Yakuza films - watch it - it's a bit of history in Yakuza ways & law.

RULE REJECTION

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 8/10 · 25 June 2019]

Arrow Video once more releases an example of Japanese cinema that might otherwise have been lost of undiscovered. Released in 1969 YAKUZA LAW from director Terui Ishii isn't a start to finish tale but a compilation of three stories involving yakuza past and present. It's an interesting combination of stories that all show that the rules yakuza are to adhere to are almost always broken by its own members. The three stories are not intertwined and stand alone to be judged.

The first tale involves a yakuza clan in the Edo period. The boss of one group has determined to wipe out his enemies and control the remaining groups. In so doing he develops a sense of paranoia and determines to rid himself of his own men that he no longer trusts. Both laws displayed in this story, not to steal and not to sleep with married women, are ignored by more than one member of the group and justice is meted out.

The second tale in the Meiji Period revolves around a yakuza member who dishonors his house by launching an unprovoked or authorized strike against one of their enemies. He did so at the instruction of his unscrupulous boss who hoped for a better outcome. Instead he joins the rest of the group in banishing the warrior for breaking the rules "do not bring trouble to the boss" and "do not return after being expelled". He is then sent to prison. At the same time he attempts to put the moves on the warrior's girlfriend as well as move up the chain of command with the group. Released from prison ten years later he returns in spite of the rule not to do so to reclaim his girlfriend and his honor.

The last tale takes place in the present and involves the rule "do not leak secrets". In spite the rule it seems that everyone involved is leaking some secret or another. As one yakuza mob takes on another two individuals attempt to wreak havoc and make personal gains at the expense of both groups.

The film is part of Ishii's "joys of torture" films and the bloodletting and gore level here is fairly extreme for the film only being released in 1969. Even the opening credits offer views of torture like a many on a skewer being turned over a fire, another having his forehead cut with a sabre saw and another having his eyeball burned out with a lens. Severed fingers, arms, hands, necks and heads fill out the stories with copious amounts of blood squirting like a firehose turned on full blast.

In breaking down the film into three parts is allows little build up for stories and jumps into the action almost immediately in each chapter. In spite of that it doesn't mean that the stories lack depth. The raw emotions on display and portrayed by the actors involved bring out that depth of story as well as the tales themselves. Ishii's direction also shows his abilities as a storyteller.

The film is entertaining and fascinating to watch unfold and doesn't make one want to reach for the remote in order to move to the interesting parts. The entire film is interesting. Not only, that Arrow has done the film justice with a blu-ray 1080p presentation. In addition to that they've included some extras that are worth watching as well. These include a new audio commentary track with author and critic Jasper Sharp, "Erotic-Grotesque and Genre Hopping: Teruo Ishii Speaks" a rare vintage interview with the director, an image gallery, a reversible sleeve featuring original art and newly commissioned artwork by Jacob Phillips and for the first pressing only an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Tom Mes. Fans of yakuza films and Japanese cinema will want to make a point of adding this one to their collection.

Three indelibly barbaric tales!

[Weirdling_Wolf · 8/10 · 12 June 2023]

This rousing, splendidly blood-thirsty portmanteau of lurid Yakuza conflict erupts in a bloody tsunami of gruesome eye-gouging, grisly evisceration, throat slashing and sanguineous Katana kills! Maestro, Teruo Ishii's infamously brutal trilogy of dramatically vengeful, gratuitously gore-grizzled Yakuza mayhem has manifestly lost none of its power to shock! Dynamic performances, visceral action scenes, diabolical treachery, desperate love, and hard won honour, 'The Yakuza's Law Lynching' is eventful, intelligent, bracingly violent Japanese exploitation at its most excitingly mean spirited. Vicious betrayals, Machiavellian plots, and savage, bullet-blasted reprisals,'The Yakuza's Law Lynching' remains entirely credible, a brutish, extraordinarily bellicose, generously crimson-splattered, eye-bogglingly cruel Torture classic. These three indelibly barbaric tales graphically portray the grimly mortal fates of those individuals who break the gleefully enforced Yakuza laws, since they do so at their own considerable peril!