Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Rampo Noir Production Committee
Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment, Fetch Publicity
Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski
On January 7th, Arrow Video introduces a Limited Edition Blu-ray edition of RAMPO NOIR (乱歩地獄, Ranpo Jigoku, 2005), an anthology featuring four tales from noted Japanese horror writer Edogawa Rampo (Horrors of Malformed Men, Blind Beast), making their global debut outside of Japan. Directors Akio Jissoji, Atsushi Kaneko, Hisayasu Sato, and Suguru Takeuchi each adapt a short story about obsession that goes from primal and supernatural to creepy and grotesque. They are tied together by actor Tadanobu Asano (ICHI THE KILLER, SHOGUN), who stars in each story as a different character.
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Rampo Noir Production Committee
Four filmmakers from completely different backgrounds bring their radically personal takes to the stories of Japan's celebrated master of the macabre. In "Mars's Canal", by music video director and visual artist Suguru Takeuchi, a lone man encounters the other side of his psyche beyond the reflective surface of a circular pond set in a desolate landscape. Japanese New Wave auteur and longtime director of the Ultraman series Akio Jissoji (THIS TRANSIENT LIFE, MANDALA) harnesses his distinctive stylistic sheen in his story of a mad mirror maker, "Mirror Hell". "Caterpillar" sees the singular vision of cult director Hisayasu Sato (THE BEDROOM, NAKED BLOOD) at its most grotesque, in his portrait of a wounded war veteran who returns from the frontline as little more than a bloody torso, helpless to defend himself against the increasingly perverted caprices of an embittered wife. Finally, a famous actor is subjected to the obsessive attentions of her limo driver in "Crawling Bugs", the directorial debut of internationally acclaimed manga artist Atsushi Kaneko (Bambi and Her Pink Gun).
Produced by the same team behind ICHI THE KILLER and UZUMAKI, and with a cast featuring some of Japan's top stars, including Tadanobu Asano (MABOROSHI, SILENCE) and Ryuhei Matsuda (BLUE SPRING, GOHATTO), RAMPO NOIR is a stylistic tour-de-force that vividly evokes the "erotic grotesque" worlds created by Japan's pioneering proponent of horror and mystery fiction.
The special features include audio commentary, interviews with the filmmakers, stage greeting from the premiere, feature-length making of documentary, an image gallery, and an illustrated collector’s booklet.
RAMPO NOIR Limited Edition Blu-ray
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Number of Discs: 1
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Audio: 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
US
Region Code: 0
SKU: AV621
UPC: 760137164982
Sreet Date: 01/07/25
List Price: $39.95
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Rampo Noir Production Committee
UK
Region Code: B
Product Code: FCD2548
UK Rating: 18
Street Date: 01/06/25
RRP: £24.99
BONUS FEATURESS
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original lossless Japanese stereo audio
- Optional newly translated English subtitles
- Brand new audio commentary by Japanese film experts Jasper Sharp and Alexander Zahlten
- Another World, a new interview with Suguru Takeuchi, director of “Mars’s Canal”
- A Moving Transformation, a new interview with Hisayasu Sato, director of “Caterpillar”
- Butterfly Queen, a new interview with Atsushi Kaneko, manga artist and director of “Crawling Bugs”
- Hall of Mirrors, a new interview with cinematographer Masao Nakabori about working with Akio Jissoji and “Mirror Hell”
- The Butterfly Effect, a new interview with Akiko Ashizawa, the cinematographer of “Caterpillar”
- Looking in the Mirror, a new interview with actor Yumi Yoshiyuki about “Mirror Hell”
- Archive stage greeting footage with the cast and directors from the Japanese premiere of RAMPO NOIR
- Crossing the Lens, a feature-length making-of documentary by Tatsuya Fukushima from 2006
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Luke Insect
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Eugene Thacker and Seth Jacobowitz
Scene from Akio Jissoji's segment, MIRROR HELL. Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Rampo Noir Production Committee
About Arrow Films
Arrow Films is a leading independent entertainment distribution company, established in 1991. Operating in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, United States of America and Canada, Arrow Films is dedicated to supporting upcoming and established filmmakers of dynamic new cinema and developing an enviable slate of quality films that enjoy a lasting legacy across its award-winning branded labels, channels, and platforms.
About MVD Entertainment Group
MVD Entertainment Group is a full service music and movie distribution firm, exclusively representing thousands of audio and visual products for DVD, Bluray, CD, vinyl, and digital rights, worldwide. MVD also exclusively distributes a growing line of merchandise including limited edition collectibles, tee shirts, and more. “Serving Artists and Audiences†is MVD's purpose statement; it represents a commitment to the interests of the musicians, filmmakers, record labels, producers, managers, and every link in the supply chain. The customers are the Audience, from wholesalers, sub-distributors, major retail chains, online retailers, specialists, and independent mom and pop stores, all the way to the consumer. MVD Entertainment Group was founded in 1986 by Tom Seaman, an industry veteran with prior experience with The Record Hunter, Sam Goody, CBS Retail, and JEM Distribution. Tom, along with his family Elinor, Eve and Ed, initially focused on music videotapes. At the turn of the century, with the advent of DVD, MVD built a large catalog of exclusively distributed audiovisual content on DVDs, with special strength in music concert films, horror movies, documentaries, comedy, cult classics, and much more.
About Fetch Publicity
Fetch Publicity is an Award Winning full service Public Relations company specialising in Offline, Online and Digital campaigns for the entertainment industry with a strong twist in engaging content generation and unrivalled direct public interaction.