I've recently been on a kick watching many of Arrow's Japanese gangster films, particularly the eight-part BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR & HUMANITY and the four-part FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION series. Having exhausted these titles, I thought I'd go back a decade to take a look at the black-and-white MASSACRE GUN, a vehicle for the hamster-cheeked Jo Shishido, the actor whose cheek implants give him a more than distinctive (i.e. rodent) look. This film is a lightly-plotted story about rival groups of gangsters wrestling for control of a popular gym and the bloodshed that ensues. It boasts fine photography and a series of violent, stylish action set-pieces in which the bullets fly and actors die heroically. Shishido and his peers give the usual tough-guy performances and the story has a light, comic-book feel to it to contrast the heaviness of an auteurish approach like Kurosawa's.

Massacre Gun (1967)** 1/2 (out of 4) Mob hit-man Ryuichi Kuroda (Jo Shishido) is forced to execute the woman he loves. This causes his brother Saburo (Jiro Okazaki) to stand up to the mob boss and soon his hands are smashed, which isn't good considering he's a boxer. This here sets Kuroda off and before long a gang war breaks out.MASSACRE GUN is a somewhat interesting Japanese film that manages to play out like a film noir while working in new elements of the Yajuza story. To say this film is a complete success would be a lie but there's no question that it contains some very interesting moments that make it worth watching if you're a fan of the genre.The highlight of the film is a terrific sequence where a character is trying to escape a hit and think he has made a getaway only to realize that he's trapped up against a wall surrounded by men with gun. This sequence was perfectly executed and you can't help but think that this was inspired by the bloody finale of BONNIE AND CLYDE but it appears both films were released the same month! The style of the film is also something worth noting and especially how crisp the B&W cinematography is. The music score is also another major plus.For the most part the performances were very good with both Shishido and Okazaki standing out. With all of that said, MASSACRE GUN does have some major problems including the actual story, which just seems a bit too light for its own good. I'd also argue that some of the pacing was off because even at just 89-minutes there are moments where the film really drags. The film had a somewhat hard time holding my attention whenever there wasn't an action scene taking place.Still, MASSACRE GUN has enough good moments to make it worth sitting through.

Fine, jazzy, Japanese yakuza crime drama from 1967 and as cool as it gets. Starring, Jo Shishido (Branded to Kill and Youth of the Beast) Tatsuya Fuji (In the Realm of the Senses and Empire of Passion) and one of the first films directed by, Yasuhari Hasebe (Female Prisoner 701 Scorpion - Grudge Song and the Stray Cat series) who is considered the creator of the violent pink sub genre. Some pedigree then and not a disappointment, with non-stop action and surely more bullets than I've ever seen (or heard!) for it must have taken about 20 to 50 for each death. Performances are excellent all round, direction tight and confident with splendidly stylish photography. Low key jazz score helps maintain the atmosphere and this would be a great introduction to the world of Japanese 60s crime movies.