Eureka Video Blu-ray Synopsis: A duo of ultra-violent yakuza thrillers starring the late great Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba, available for the first time ever in the UK. In the Spaghetti Western inspired I Perform Murder, a mysterious black-clad killer (Chiba) with a personal vendetta against the yakuza manipulates two rival clans in order to draw out his targets, leading to a climactic bloody shoot-out that must be seen to be believed. Then, in Extend my Condolences, Chiba plays a criminal who is betrayed and sent to prison. After serving his time, he wages war on the yakuza, eventually raiding the mansion of the crime boss who turned on him in a spectacular, action-packed climax that would later be directly homaged by John Woo in A Better Tomorrow II. (87/85 Mins)

 

Views: Produced by the infamous and constantly busy Toei Studios, the Yakuza Wolf movies highlight yet another two great titles of the late Sonny Chiba's lengthy career. Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder stars the incredible action star as an unstoppable man on a mission of vengeance to find out who killed his crime-boss father, and locate his missing sister. Chiba exacts his revenge by pitting the two rival gangs responsible against each other, while leaving a bloody trail of destruction behind him – no matter what the cost!

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Made in 1972, the first Yakuza Wolf movie clearly carries many tones of popular films such as Yojimbo (1961) and Django (1966) with the latter movie itself being a spaghetti western remake of the Akira Kurosawa classic. It plays as a stylish, comic book revenge thriller that immediately lets its audience know what they are in for with its fast introduction of sex and violence. This is confirmed even more by the stunning visuals by cinematographer Yoshio Nakajima – the man responsible for capturing many other Japanese classics including Chiba's own Bodyguard Kiba (1973), Wolf Guy (1975), Sister Street Fighter (1974), Karate Bullfighter (1975), The Killing Machine (1975) and Karate Warriors (1976) – who delivers some beautiful, exciting, and memorable shots throughout. The film was directed by Ryuichi Takamori, a talented film maker who had made his debut less than a decade before and was behind great titles such as Game Of Chance 3 (1967), North Sea Chivalry (1967), and Experience (1970). Before this he had worked with Sonny Chiba on the Yakuza Deka (1970) movies – going onto make Bodyguard Kiba 1 & 2 (1973) with him only a year after Yakuza Wolf. Throughout his 2 decades in the business, Ryuichi Takamori would direct 44 films and television shows – eventually passing in 2011 at the age of 86. Once again, Takamori works from a script written by the talented Fumio Konami; the same man behind the screenplays for films such as Snake Woman's Curse (1968), Japan Organised Crime Boss (1969), Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974), Graveyard Of Honour (1975), Shogun's Ninja (1980), and many of the aforementioned Chiba titles. He would also write the Female Prisoner Scorpion (1972) movies with Yakuza Wolf sharing very similar tones to that series in particular with the team, overall, delivering a wonderfully brutal, stylish, and highly entertaining action thriller.

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Oddly, and very much like his Executioner (1974) films, Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences has nothing to do with the first film – delivered in a very different style with many actors returning as very different characters. This time, the film is less Django and more James Bond with its use of fun gadgets and wild stunts, but also its addition of comedy – some of which has elements of Benny Hill's madcap style, but most that was typical of Chiba's work around this period. Somewhat more in tone with Chiba's Yakuza Deka (1970) series, the star plays a small time crook that finds himself betrayed by a Yakuza boss and finds himself behind bars for the crime. Inside, he meets a new friend and they plan their escape so that they can execute his revenge on the Yakuza, as well as taking what they can to make up for their troubles. This time, director Buichi Saito takes over – another popular director who began in the business in the mid 1950s and has delivered titles such as Tokyo Mighty Guy (1960), Diamonds Of The Andes (1968), Wicked Priest 5 (1971), and the epic Lone Wolf & Cub: Baby Cart In Peril (1972) as well as its television show a few years after. Screenwriter Konami is replaced by Ryuzo Nakanishi – a busy writer who provided the scripts for films and animes such as Massacre Gun (1967), Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal (1970), Bodyguard Kiba 1 & 2 (1973), The War In Space (1977), Cyborg 009 (1979), Around The World With Willy Fog (1983), and Godzilla 1985...

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But of course, and regardless of their differences, the most important part of the Yakuza Wolf movies is its star – Shinichi 'Sonny' Chiba – the global superstar who won the hearts of action movie fans for almost 6 decades through to his unfortunate passing in 2021. Playing these very different characters as a precursor to his Street Fighter character, Chiba's performance in the first chapter is akin to that of The Terminator (1984) or even Charles Bronson in Death Wish (1974) as the unstoppable man on a brutal revenge mission. But with its sequel, he delivers a performance that is the complete opposite to that very intense character; almost playing things for laughs with the dark sex and violence from Yakuza Wolf 1 being replaced with energy, likeable characters, and comedy. But this was something that Shinichi could do with his eyes closed, starring in well over 200 productions throughout his career – rarely disappointing and leaving a legacy cinematic joy behind him.

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In hindsight, and knowing that they were only released a matter of months after one another, one can only think that Yakuza Wolf 2 was perhaps first imagined as another film completely – eventually gaining its retitling as a sequel in a bid to gain the same cinematic success; a move which no doubt confused its intended audiences who were fans of the first, but still proves to be just as enjoyable in its own wacky kind of way. Regardless, none have ever looked better than they do now thanks to these stunning HD restorations from Eureka and are a must for all fans of the late, great Sonny Chiba!

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Overall: Two very different but very entertaining classics of Chiba's career, the Yakuza Wolf films are entertaining well worth checking out!

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Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: Audio Commentaries by Mike Leeder & Arne Venema, Video Essay on Yakuza Wolf by Howard Hughes, Trailers

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Watch my unboxing video for this Eureka Video release HERE

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Get your copy HERE