films seen
14/26
average score
3.21*
nationality
Japan - 69 years old
status
R.I.P. (1937 - 2006)
more info

Jissoji started out with a respected arthouse trilogy, but quickly rebranded himself as a skilled genre/camp director. He's one of the more interesting and surprising directors to have come out of Japan, regardless of any personal preferences.

Movies


Rampo Noir

Rampo Jigoku
2005 / 134m - Japan
Fantasy, Horror - Anthology
Rampo Noir poster

An amazing collection of shorts, brought to life by superb actors and featuring strong and diverse styles. A true sight to behold and without a doubt one of the best Japanese horror projects around.


A wonderful collection of shorts, visually pleasing, fun to watch and from time to time refreshingly weird.


Summer of Ubume

Ubume no Natsu
2005 / 123m - Japan
Horror
3.5*/5.0*
Summer of Ubume poster

Akio Jissoji is somewhat of a cult figure. He started out as a director in the Ultraman franchise (both series and films) and ended his career directing obscure horror films. I've reviewed his segments in Rampo Jigoku and Yume Ju-ya, shorts that should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from Ubume no Natsu [Summer of Ubume], his final standalone feature film. He died not long after, joining a prestigious list of directors who kept going right until their final breath.

Read all

Even though Ubume no Natsu was made in 2006, it has little to no ties to the Asian horror wave that was all the rage back then. This is no 'less is more' horror flick trying to mimic the success of Nakata or Shimizu, instead the film harks back to the classic Japanese horror stories of Edogawa Rampo. Dark, twisted and supernatural, but with a strong psychological core. Ubume no Natsu is an adaptation of the first novel in the Kyougokudou series, a novel that is also enjoying its own manga adaptation right now.

The film is set in the early 50s, following a detective who is called in to investigate the events surrounding a mysterious hospital. Patients, mostly children, keep disappearing on the hospital's premises. When members of the staff are also ending up dead, the neighborhood's imagination starts running rampant. Of course the case isn't so easily solved and several other people are brought in to try and explain the mysterious events.

If you care about a great cast, this film has you covered. An insane amount of familiar faces are featured, from the lead roles down to the smaller, secondary parts. Shin'ichi Tsutsumi and Masatoshi Nagase are probably the most prestigious names, with actors like Hiroshi Abe, Susumu Terajima, Suzuki Matsuo, Rena Tanaka and Yoshiyoshi Arakawa also on board you just know you're in for a treat. It's great to see all of these actors brought together in one film and it's pretty clear they had a lot of fun shooting Ubume no Natsu.

The presentation is top notch too. Even though Jissoji was already quite old when he shot this, the cinematography is quirky and playful. There are some great angles, the editing is fun and even though he uses the same visual tricks a few times too often, the film looks great throughout. The soundtrack is a bit more classic in nature, but goes well with the film. The two combined create a mysterious, dark and intriguing atmosphere, the kind you expect from a tale that could've been written by Rampo.

Don't expect any gore, don't expend a typical Japanese suspense flick. Ubume no Natsu is a film that relies more on intrigue and mystery, with some perversion and psychological horror thrown in for good measure. The presentation is great, the cast is impressive and even though the film is quite long, it never drags or becomes boring. There are better films in the genre, but that's hardly a critique on this film.

Murder on D Street

D-Zaka no Satsujin Jiken
1998 / 95m - Japan
Mystery
3.5*/5.0*
Murder on D Street poster

When someone like Jissoji takes on Rampo, there's a good chance something great will come of it. Murder on D Street isn't Rampo's most familiar work, but this dark tale of death and debauchery is clearly from his hand. Jissoji's direct and dynamic style is a perfect fit, making this a fine precursor to his entry in the Rampo Noir anthology.

Read all

Fukiya is an artist who specializes in the restoration of artworks. He's also great at making forgeries. When a woman walks into his shop and shows him lost scrolls, he is immediately intrigued. He discovers the woman actually modelled for the paintings, and develops a sickening fascination for her.

When it comes to adapting Rampo stories, it's really about bringing out that lurid, slumbering darkness that hides in people. Jissoji truly is the ideal man for the job. The cinematography looks stylish, the performances are restrained, and the score adds to the atmosphere. A remarkable film from a remarkable director.

Ultra Q: The Movie

Urutora Q za Mûbi: Hoshi no Densetsu
1990 / 112m - Japan
Sci-fi, Adventure
3.5*/5.0*
Ultra Q: The Movie poster

Akio Jissoji is no doubt one of the oddest directors to come out of Japan. In the West, he's best known for his Buddhist trilogy (an arthouse staple), in his home country he worked on some of the biggest pulp you can imagine. Ultra Q is one of those films, a fun yet elevated mix of tokusatsu and kaiju.

Read all

A newspaper journalist goes to the area near Eternal Island. People have been disappearing and with all the local folklore, it makes for a potentially interesting article. The journalist discovers his own roots lie within the area. He meets up with a mysterious woman, who wants to teach him more about the island.

The film's pulpy origins are abundantly clear, but Jissoji's excellent direction makes this a real hoot. The camera work is great, the effects are impressive, and the fantastical designs look cool. The pacing is solid too, and even though the story isn't all that demanding, it contains all the ingredients to make this an entertaining spectacle.

Marquis de Sade's Prosperities of Vice

Akutoku no Sakae
1988 / 96m - Japan
Mystery
3.5*/5.0*
Marquis de Sade's Prosperities of Vice poster

I guess I have no more excuses to ignore Akio Jissôji's oeuvre. Prosperities of Vice is the fifth Jissôji film I've seen and none of them have disappointed me so far. They've been mostly random watches (including two accidental anthology entries), but every single time I've been positively surprised.

Read all

This film too went far above my expectations. I'd expected a pinku with some artistic intentions, but describing it like that is doing Prosperities of Vice a big disservice. While the Sade mythology leaves plenty of room for debauchery, Jissôji delivers a very stylish and relatively restrained film.

For a film from the 80s it looks absolutely stunning, sporting superb camera work, neat and colorful styling and excellent use of lighting. The soundtrack too is distinctive and moody. The plot is a bit of a puzzle, but it was intriguing enough to keep me glued to the screen. A very interesting film, Jissôji deserves to be rediscovered.

Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis

Teito Monogatari
1988 / 135m - Japan
Fantasy, Horror
3.5*/5.0*
Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis poster

A pretty great genre film that made me think of Carpenter's dark fantasy work. Jissoji is clearly the better director though, with strong camera work, great lighting and some solid special effects he delivers a film that is not only good fun, but also looks surprisingly beautiful, even to this day. Quite the discovery this, I'll have to look into Jissoji some more.


A Watcher in the Attic

Yaneura no Sanposha
1993 / 74m - Japan
Mystery
3.0*/5.0*
A Watcher in the Attic poster

Jissoji adapts another Rampo story. The two are a great match, although with Jissoji it can be a little tricky to put a clear label on him. He's a director with some unique and varied sensibilities, handling auteur/arthouse productions and popular cheese with the same ease. The mix of the dark and the perverted, so typical for Rampo's stories, is another thing he really does well.

Read all

It's not the first adaption of this Rampo story, it's also not a very difficult story to adapt, so don't expect any wonders here. A man staying in a hotel discovers the open attic, which allows him to spy on the other guests. What starts as a voyeuristic adventure quickly turns into cold-blooded murder, others seem to be on to his little scheme.

Jissoji keeps it short and sweet, which is perfect for the simple premise. While the story remains basic, more effort was put into the mood. Thanks to the rather stylish cinematography and the pleasant score, Jissoji hits the right notes. It's not one of his more remarkable films, but an easy recommend for fans of both Jissoji and Rampo.

Blue Lake Woman

Aoi Numa no Onna
1986 / 90m - Japan
Drama, Horror
3.0*/5.0*
Blue Lake Woman poster

A classic kaidan (ghost) story by Jissoji. A director with a very recognizable style that matches the kaidan aesthetic. Blue Lake Woman can't quite hide its TV roots though, which seriously hampers the enjoyment of the film. Still, I'm quite sure fans of Jissoji will find plenty to enjoy here.

Read all

When Nagare is invited to stay at Takigawa's house while he is off to do business in the US, he finds himself drawn to Mizue, the wife of Takigawa. She feels the same as Nagare and the two decide to commit a lover's suicide to redeem for their adultery. Mizue dies, but Nagare survives the suicide attempt. When he revisits Takigawa's house several years later, he is visited by the ghost of Mizue.

Surreal imagery, eerie ghostly apparitions and of course clocks (because what good would a Jissoji film be without clocks). Blue Lake Woman has all the ingredients for a lovely film, except that it looks like it was shot on a consumer-grade camera. If you like a good Japanese ghost story though, or you're a dedicated Jissoji fan, this comes well recommended.

Mandala

Mandara
1971 / 132m - Japan
Drama, Thriller
3.0*/5.0*
Mandala poster

Jissoji's most Japanese New Wave-like film I've seen so far. The mix of sexuality, politics and brutality is reminiscent of the work of Wakamatsu, only Jissoji has a more controlled and deliberate signature, though no less experimental. It makes Mandala a very intriguing film.

Read all

A couple swap goes awry when one couple is attacked and raped by two savage men. Not phased by the event, the couple starts a search for the men and finds they are part of a strange cult that tries to capture mankind through the lens of rape and agriculture. As insane as that sounds, the couple joins the cult, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

The cinematography is splendid, with its odd angles and meticulous color work. The outside scenes aren't quite as striking, but still sport some interesting editing. The plot is a bit hazy, the soundtrack nerve wrecking and the performances are spirited, all adding to the unique experience. Not the easiest film, but worth a watch.

This Transient Life

Mujô
1970 / 143m - Japan
Drama
3.0*/5.0*
This Transient Life poster

The real start of Jissôji's career and the first in his Buddhist trilogy. This Transient Life feels like a typical film of a promising first-time director (though Jissôji had made some shorts before this), a film where its director does his utmost best to prove his worth and goes all in. That makes for a slightly uneven film, but it sure is interesting.

Read all

Masao has an affair with his sister Yuki. The two don't seem to mind their incestuous splurges, but they get into trouble when Yuki gets pregnant from his child. Masao leaves to work for a sculptor and Yuki marries a local handyman who has a thing for her. But the two can't forget about each other and when they get back together, chaos ensues.

Pinku meets arthouse, with a splash of Japanese New Wave. It's an interesting combination of elements. The stark black and white cinematography is very nice, the pacing of the film slow but deliberate and the intrigue is strong. The soundtrack is a letdown though and some scenes do go on too long. Still, Jissôji left his calling card with this one.


Dialogue

Diarôgu Yori Daraku: Aru Hitodzuma no Tsuiseki Chôsa
1992 / 82m - Japan
Thriller
2.0*/5.0*
Dialogue poster

Akio Jissôji started his career with a bang, but later on, he had a much harder time getting his projects off the ground. Dialogue is a TV-grade project that doesn't even pretend to be anything more. For a sexy TV thriller, it's not all that bad, and I had a pretty decent time with it, but Jissôji is capable of so much more.

Read all

A man hires a private investigator to stalk his wife, hoping to verify that she is cheating on him. The investigator is a shady figure who doesn't shy away from double-crossing his client, and he gives her a chance to keep this info a secret when he finds proof of her adultery. To pay off her debt, she becomes an adult actress.

The performances aren't great, the cinematography is pretty functional and the 4:3 ratio is an eyesore. The plot is somewhat interesting though and the wife's descent into depravity, while both the PI and her husband are scamming her, is intriguing enough. I just wish there was a bit more to it.

Arietta

Ijmete Kudasai Henrietta
1989 / 51m - Japan
Drama
2.0*/5.0*
Arietta poster

A more straightforward pinku from Jissoji. I'm not entirely surprised he directed a film like this, it's not all that far removed from some of his other work, but without the added appeal it feels quite bare bones and Jissoji doesn't really do that much to break outside the boundaries of the genre.

Read all

A middle-aged woman finds herself in quite a bit of trouble when she can't pay back the debt her husband accumulated. There are no good jobs for women like her, she can't even find work in a bar. As a final resort, she joins an SM club. After a short introduction, she has to make good on her own.

The setup of the film isn't too bad, but the production feels pretty cheap and none of Jissoji's usual traits manage to shine through. I guess the acting is above average for this type of production, the drama is mildly effective, and it's certainly not as sleazy as some others, but Jissoji is obviously capable of much better.

Poem

Uta
1972 / 138m - Japan
Drama
2.0*/5.0*
Poem poster

A slightly disappointing film from Jissôji. So far I've been very impressed by his work, even his slightly older films. Poem was the first pre-80s film I watched from him and it's the first one that didn't really captivate me. Maybe because it was too grounded in the arthouse scene, where his later films have stronger genre elements.

Read all

The film follows the demise of the Moriyama family, a notable and wealthy house. Ihee, the head of the family, is worried about his legacy, as none of his sons seem worthy to follow in his footsteps. He gets suspicious when Toru (his second son) weasels his way back into their lives and starts asking questions about his family's wealth.

The stark black & white cinematography is interesting, so is the way Jissôji plays with the soundtrack, but the pacing is quite slow and by itself the styling isn't remarkable enough to carry the film. There's definitely beauty here and Jissôji shows he's a talented director, but it's not quite enough to justify the runtime and the pacing.