Japan Video//April 2021
Apr 6 - Earwig and the Witch (GKids/Shout! Factory)
Per GKids: “Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.
The latest film from the legendary Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and more) is directed by Goro Miyazaki (From Up on Poppy Hill, Tales from Earthsea) and produced by studio co-founder Toshio Suzuki, with planning on the feature from Academy Award®-winner Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring the voices of Richard E. Grant, Kacey Musgraves and Dan Stevens, Earwig and the Witch additionally features an English language theme song performance by six-time Grammy Award-winner Kacey Musgraves. Based on the children’s novel by Diana Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle), the film marks Studio Ghibli’s first 3DCG animated feature.“
Apr 12 - Meatball Machine (Terracotta Distribution)
Terracotta are releasing this in a limited edition. Going by the wording on their site it seems that the slipcase is what is being limited to 2,000 copies.
Per Terracotta: “Aliens are invading the Earth and inserting themselves into humans, turning them into slave cyborgs, hosts for the parasitic alien life forms. When Sachiko is infected and transformed, it’s up to her colleague and wanna-be-lover Yoji, who himself is already half-infected, to save her with his new-found mutated state and deadly weapons growing out from his body.
Part tragic love story, part body horror, MEATBALL MACHINE is an extreme steam punk gore fest which has stood the test of time since its first release and has since spawned a sequel MEATBALL MACHINE: KODOKU (directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura who was the special effects director of this original MEATBALL MACHINE).“
Apr 13 - Fukushima 50 (Capelight Pictures/MPI Home)
This played at Japan Cuts so it might be good. But the English dubbed trailer is pretty amazing:
Apr 13 - True Story of a Woman in Jail: Hell of Love DVD [Nikkatsu Erotic Films] (Impulse Pictures)
Per Impulse Pictures: “Hitomi Kozue returns as Mayumi in this final chapter of the TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN IN JAIL trilogy! Mayumi is sent to jail after brutally attacking her partner and his mistress. Sent to live in Cell 31, the women there couldn’t be more different… they are very religious, sing hymns and discuss the Bible. A fight with a rival cell block starts a bloody and vicious war in the jail… one where the warden and guards seek vengeance on the women with brutal torture and sexual humiliation. When a new inmate arrives and Mayumi recognizes her, all hell breaks loose! Culminating in a fierce and explosive New Year’s Eve battle, TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN IN JAIL: HELL OF LOVE is a shocking entry in Nikkatsu Studios’ take on the “women in prison” series of films.”
Apr 25 - Battle Royale Limited Edition (Arrow Video)
Yet another opportunity to buy this film. What’s cool is that there will be a 4K UHD edition for both the theatrical version and director’s cut. The sequel is included too but without the UHD love. Along with the films there is a fifth disc with the soundtrack but the reason to not sit on this one is the book included with it: Kinji Fukasaku: Man of Rage, an exclusive 120-page monograph on the director by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes that is exclusive to the Limited Edition. Also, playing cards.