As an old saying goes actions have consequences, it doesn't matter how deep you bury the truth or even how far you go, sooner or latter you eventually pay the price.This is one of the most bizarre and daring J Horror entries I've ever seen, it is no doubt one of a kind as it deals with a touchy subject matter Hell itself. It was really scary and disturbing enough to the point where it would make anyone go to Church or even consider taking up any kind of positive faith. But at the same time it was also bizarrely beautiful because of the fantastic imagery.Not much I can really say, the plot line is simple on sinners simply going to hell. The first half is really a standard setter just to justify the reason why the main character and most around him are going to the land down under. The main character Shiro is a bit sympathetic but to an extent as you feel he should know better. Shiro is unfortunately being influenced by his so called friend whom is pretty much evil incarnate. Why the hell Shiro would ever be friends with him is anyone's guess but anyway as we see the guy is leading him down a bad road from an incident that easily could of been avoided but wasn't as Shiro listens to his friend giving him the worst advice any person would give another. And of course it's all downhill for Shiro as bad karma just brews, left and right everything goes wrong to the point of his inevitable doom which is when things really get exciting or terrifying however you see it, but that's what were all really in this film for the visuals/journey to Hell.The hell sequence is fantastic, the only other film that has this type of sequence is one of the Coffin Joe films but that's a different story. The second half is literally a roller coaster ride of wild imagery, as you are just jettisoned with a barrage of dark, disturbing and beautiful images of all the torments of the Budist faith's version of Hell. There is just so much to see almost as much as a Mad Magazine or Where's Waldo book illustration art that it would take more than one watch to get it all.The production value of the Hell sequence is fantastic as it's all practical. From the gore effects, the make up work on the demons and ogres, but also the place itself was inspired by the paintings of Henrich Bloch and Dante's Inferno. There is just a lot of really disturbing things that happen which is terrifying on a deep seeded level as we see sinners are being punished in many different ways and pulled different directions. Heads are being decapitated, bodies sawed off, people being beaten by clubs of giant ogres, and more and more crazy things you just have to see to believe. It just goes to show that even if you escape you crimes in the mortal world you can never escape them in the spiritual realm.Thought the film isn't entirely doom and gloom as we see there is a sense of hope as we see Shiro's only salvation is the repent for his sins so that he can according to the Budist faith be given another chance in the mortal realm. In a way you could say that is part of the message of the film which to me makes this film both a Buddist but also Christian film as in both faith's it teaches us that it is never too late to repent, in order to be spiritually clean one must admit to their own sins so forgiveness can be attained and you gain spiritual freedom.Overall this is a solid J Horror film, like most their films it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea but still if your a horror fan and are into J Horror then it's worth a glimpse.Beware of the consequences of your actions, you never know where they might lead you to.Rating: 3 stars

Jigoku is a very strange and disturbing 1960 Japanese horror film whose title literally means "Hell". The film opens with student Shiro (Shigeru Amachi) who reluctantly falls in with another student named Tamura (Yoichi Numata), despite Shiro feeling very uncomfortable with this morally void young man. When driving together one night, Tamura runs over a drunken Yakuza and kills him. Shiro, now racked with guilt, starts to see his life spinning out of control as his fiancé' (Utako Mitsuya) is killed in a car accident and his mother takes ill. Even worse, the drunk Yakuza's mother and girlfriend seek revenge and Shiro becomes surrounded with a group of people who, like him, all have sins to hide. Are Shiro and those around him truly on a path to pay for their sins? Director Nobuo Nakagawa boldly answers this question as the final act of the film literally takes place in Hell and eternal punishment is brutally given out to Shiro and the sinful individuals that came to surround him. The film takes a surreal turn as Nobuo gives us a visually haunting portrayal of hell and the diverse punishments suffered by those who find themselves there. Shiro might have been able to avoid this fate had he gone to the authorities and confessed but, now must not only suffer himself but, watch his fiancé' and their unborn child suffer as well. The other characters are also punished according to their sins and Nobuo takes us along for their suffering unflinchingly with some very disturbing sequences, some with unexpected gore. As this is 1960, most of the visuals are done in camera with just a few composite shots thus making this film even more effective. Jigoku may not be for everyone. It is a slow paced film but, that serves the story as we experience Shiro's guilt and the lack of morality by those around him, then are taken to Hell with them to see them receive their punishment. And it is a visually stunning and very unsettling trip if you're up to it. A bold and haunting example of 60s Japanese Horror cinema. 7/10

I must say that I was pretty disappointed with this one. I expected something much more polished and sure of itself. Instead I got a jumbled mess of what could have been a great Japanese horror film. Everything seemed kind of rushed. There is a scene when the people are mourning the loss of a loved one and people are crying, but I felt no emotion. It jumped too quickly from the last scene and for that much emotion for someone we didn't really know was too much. There are parts that are good, particularly once we are in Hell. Certain shots are set up nicely and the atmosphere in Hell is spot on yet unique. How they all get to Hell is kind of ridiculous and that kind of ruined it for me. I also didn't like the ending. There is obviously a metaphor there but I don't see it. There is a big green wheel and the main character just keeps yelling for his baby. It's not believable or pleasant really. This wasn't what I expected, and this time that is a bad thing.

As for me it is principle question: who was the first in modern horror genre?Italy or Japan?Father of Italian horror Mario Bava was first who explore sex and violence theme ("The Vampires"," The Mask of Satan ").Most cinema products of Italy interest (at 50s) rather "historycal" adventures than tits and blood.Front edge of Japanise genre cinema was Godzilla (at 50s).Without sexual tits too.It seems that Nobuo Nakagava one of the first directors who knowingly using shocking images (blood,tortures) and naked bodies for creation of modern sad Gothic movie - "Jigoku" (1960).May be some times "Jigoku" is too much slow movie.But always impressive style (espetualy in second part of the film).