Rape Zombie. La lujuria de los muertos vivientes

Exposure to radiation causes men to turn into zombie rapists, whose victims die from their toxic ejaculate. Four women women try to survive the outbreak, seeking shelter in a Shinto temple.

With such an outrageous title and concept, one might assume that, with Rape Zombie: Lust of the Dead, director Naoyuki Tomomatsu is taking an OTT satirical swipe at Japan's obsession with sexual violence. Several scenes inspired by Dawn of the Dead, in which intellectuals and feminists debate the nature of the epidemic, go some way to support the idea. I'm not convinced, though: I'm guessing that the real purpose of the film is to get lots of Japanese girls naked and to throw in some cheap gore effects.

And, boy, are they ever cheap: rubbishy After Effects CGI blood splats (the only way to kill a zombie is to shoot it in the penis!) and rubbery prosthetics abound, with some even worse effects saved for the apocalyptic nuclear aftermath ending, in which North Korea bombs Japan (and a lesbian couple have a baby-no man involved?!?!)

As a zombie film this is a total failure, the shuffling undead (moving slowly because their trousers are round their ankles?) look really cheap; as soft-core titillation, it's a little more successful, with plenty of female nudity (as the zombies get their rape on) and some girl on girl sex to set the pulse racing.

If you enjoy trashy Asian exploitation, Lust of the Dead is just about worth a watch, but it's far from essential. 4.5 out of 10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb.

*My mistake: there seems to be five of these films so far!