Mondo Macabro: Mondo Macabro: 2009 Releases / Lanzamientos 2009 (Parte 1)

Female Prisoner: Caged! a.k.a. "The Prison Heat" / DVD-Video
Widescreen 1.85:1 Color / Production Year: 1983 / Region 1

Large: Front • Back | Studio: Mondo Macabro | Production Year: 1983 | Release Date: 1/27/2009| Length: 70 mins

Synopsis: A sadistic warden makes an example of a young woman named Masayo who the other inmates look up to.
Female Prisoner: Caged! was directed by Masaru Konuma whose other notable films within the Roman porno genre include Flower & Snake ‘74′, Cloistered Nun: Runa’s Confession, Erotic Diary of an Office Lady, Tattooed Flower Vase and Wife to be Sacrificed. Visually Female Prisoner: Caged! is filled with a lot style. There are three standout set pieces, a sex scene involving a prison guard and a priest, Masayo’s reuniting with her lover in front of a prison guard and the film’s brutal ending. While there is plenty to enjoy in Female Prisoner: Caged! the end result is not as satisfying when compared to Masaru Konuma’s best films like, Flower & Snake ‘74′ and Wife to be Sacrificed.

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The image “http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/7876/femaleprisonercagedshit.png” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Even from a WIP (Women in Prison) stand point the film struggles to find its identity. The story plods along at a tedious pace with shocking moments like gang rapes and golden showers popping up every now and then to keep things interesting. Outside of your cliché WIP scenario’s the plot is nonexistent. Also Female Prisoner: Caged! like so many of Nikkatsu Studios Roman porno’s from the 1980’s suffers from lack of budget. Another one of the film’s flaws is that the cast all seem to go through the motions. The only performance of note is the actress that plays the prison guard who sleeps with a priest. Ultimately Female Prisoner: Caged! lacks the depth and perversion that is present in Masaru Konuma bests films.

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The image “http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7876/femaleprisonercagedshit.png” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Features:

- Brand new anamorphic transfer from negative
- Exclusive documentary on Japanese cinema
- Original theatrical trailer
- Introduction by film historian Jasper Sharp
- Optional subtitles
- Mondo Macabro previews

Video:

Widescreen 1.85:1 Color

Audio:

JAPANESE: Dolby Digital Stereo

Subtitles:

English

Extras Review:
Some of the extras included on this release like a text piece about Nikkatsu Studios, a twenty four minute documentary titled “The Erotic Empire” and trailers for Female Prisoner: Caged!, Watcher in the Attic, Naked Rashomon, the Sins of Sister Lucia and Assault! Jack the Ripper, these extras also appear on the Mondo Macabro DVD release’s for Assault! Jack the Ripper and Watcher in the Attic. Extras new to this release are a trailer for The Prosperities of the Vice, two text pieces, one about Female Prisoner: Caged! and the other about director Masaru Konuma. Other extras include a eleven minute interview with Jasper Sharp who discusses Female Prisoner: Caged! and the films of Masaru Konuma. Rounding out the extras is the ever expanding Mondo Macabro preview trailer which includes clips from titles they have currently released or about to release. Overall Female Prisoner: Caged! is another exceptional release from Mondo Macabro.

Sins Of Sister Lucia / DVD-Video
Widescreen 2.35:1 Color (Anamorphic) / Production Year: 1978 / Region 1

Large: Front • Back | Studio: Mondo Macabro | Production Year: 1978 | Release Date: 2/24/2009 | Length: 70 mins

Synopsis: Rumiko a promiscuous young woman accidentally kills one of her fathers’ associates. Her father not wanting to cause a scandal forces her to become a nun. Stubborn and not wanting to conform, Rumiko quickly discovers that the nuns at her convent have a darker side waiting to be unleashed.
Sins of Sister Lucia was directed by Koyu Ohara whose other notable films include Wet Rope Confession, Fairy in a Cage, True Story of Woman Condemned: Sex Hell, True Story of Woman Condemned Continues, New True Story of Woman Condemned to Hell and White Rose Campus: Then Everybody Gets Raped. The screenplay for Sins of Sister Lucia was written by Chiho Katsura whose other notable screenwriting credits include Rape! 13th Hour, Assault! Jack the Ripper, Flower and Snake: Sketch of Hell and Hausu.
At the core of the plot for Sins of Sister Lucia is a character named Rumiko (she later is given the name Lucia by the mother superior at the convent). Here back-story is told through a series of flashbacks. Even through these glimpses into her past one could see that her relationship with her corrupt father sets in motion her eventual downward spiral. Also the more her character is exposed to the darker side of life this pushes her farther over the edge, to an eventual breakdown.

Visually Sins of Sister Lucia a well directed film that features many memorable moments like a scene were the nuns subdue Rumiko with yarn and a scene where two escaped convicts rape Rumiko who surprises them with a look of satisfaction. The film’s standout performance comes from Yuki Nohira in the lead role of Rumiko / Sister Lucia (she would also appear in the Koyu Ohara’s Wet Rope Confession). She really starts to shine once her character Lucia lets herself after being raped. Two other performances of note Rumi Tama as mother superior and Tamaki Katsura who most Roman Porno fans will recognize as the frizzy haired waitress in Assault! Jack the Ripper. Ultimately Sins of Sister Lucia is a well made Nunsplotation film that is knee deep in this genres most perverse clichés.

Features:

- Exclusive documentary on Japanese cinema
- Original theatrical trailer
- Introduction by film historian Jasper Sharp
- Mondo Macabro previews

Video:

Widescreen 2.35:1 Color (Anamorphic)

Audio:

JAPANESE: Dolby Digital Stereo

Subtitles:

English

Extras Review:
Some of the extras included on this release like a text piece about Nikkatsu Studios, a twenty four minute documentary titled “The Erotic Empire” and trailers for Female Prisoner: Caged!, Watcher in the Attic, Naked Rashomon, the Sins of Sister Lucia and Assault! Jack the Ripper, these extras also appear on the Mondo Macabro DVD release’s for Assault! Jack the Ripper and Watcher in the Attic. Extras new to this release are a trailer for The Prosperities of the Vice and a text piece about Sins of Sister Lucia. Other extras include a nine minute interview with Jasper Sharp who discusses Sins of Sister Lucia and the films of Koyu Ohara. Rounding out the extras is the Mondo Macabro preview trailer which includes clips from titles they have currently released or about to release. Overall Sins of Sister Lucia is another exceptional release from Mondo Macabro.