SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Falconeer Norifumi Suzuki, legendary director of 70's pink films has fashioned his most shocking and controversial film in "Star of David: Beauty Hunting". Dealing with every inflammatory subject conceivable; rape, incest, bestiality, necrophilia, but somehow the film never for a moment looks ugly, or cheap for that matter. Suzuki is a genius indeed to film such horrors and make them look stylish and elegant. The story is evil and hypnotic as well; the child of rape who grows up to inherit the twisted traits of his genetic father, a man who brutally raped his mother and destroyed so many lives as a result. For the woman is raped in front of her new husband, who grows to despise her, as in typical fashion for movies of this genre, the woman appears to enjoy being violated! She becomes pregnant as a result of the rape, and gives birth to a son, equally hated and abused by his surrogate dad. The boy is exposed to violence and sexual perversions at a young age, which adds to his already twisted psyche. And he is made familiar with death when his tortured mother eventually commits suicide. The seeds of hate have been planted, and at the age of 20 he inherits a sprawling estate, when his father dies in a mysterious boating accident. Now in a position of great wealth and power, he is able to live out his most depraved fantasies. Girls are kidnapped and taken to a bizarre torture chamber in the cellar of the house. But the story has deeper meanings behind all the excessive sex and torture. Symbolic attacks on capitalism, family 'values', and religion are all explored in an intelligent way. A famous pop singer is kidnapped and humiliated, and is less upset at being brutalized than she is of finding that her song has dropped from the charts. And a pious schoolgirl, a virgin, but secretly addicted to masturbation, is exposed, broken, and remodeled into a somehow healthier, happier person, when the constraints of society are lifted, and she can be a sexual person at last. Here is Suzuki's most adult oriented feature, a horrifying vision, but with very intelligent jet black comic overtones. I felt guilty for laughing when the whip is placed in the hand of the singers assistant, as she goes wild at finally having the upper hand in a society that dictates that she should be on a lower level, because of beauty standards, or money. She savagely beats the arrogant pop singer, and forces her to repeat, 'I am a dark pig!' Make no mistake about 'Star of David', as it is a film of superior quality and beauty. This is not 'Guts of a Virgin' type trash, and not nearly as sickening and juvenile. In fact there is really not much actual gore here at all, other than a gruesome stab to the heart scene, and a couple other short scenes. In fact, the blood draining scene in Suzuki's 'Terrifying Girls High School' is more extreme than what is shown here. And this lends yet another layer of class to this production. The real terror is of the psychological kind. Not to say this film is not loaded with disturbing imagery, the scene involving a German Shephard being especially offensive. Those familiar with Suzuki's work will recognize his unique style here; his masterful use of color and camera angles, as well as attention to detail. The final scenes in a flower garden are especially beautiful, and a sex scene at the films climax comes across as romantic, even though it involves a brother and sister! 'Star of David' is one of the most infamous 'pink films' of all time, and for good reason. Highly recommended to viewers with open minds, and for those looking to venture out of the main stream.

Jonny_Numb When a man's wife is raped and impregnated by a serial killer, the result is a handsome playboy who grows up with a fetish for sex, torture, and murder. This Japanese production is like a morality play with no morals, with a protagonist who is at once charming, intelligent, and unredeemable; the multi-layered script fleshes out the character and those he abducts, and makes some surprisingly insightful observations about a society fixated on religion, morals, and beauty. While not achieving a balanced mix of depravity and fascination like Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Salo," "Beautiful Girl Hunter" comes close enough, though the violence and sexual content becomes excessive near the end.6.5/10

dbborroughs This is a well made beautiful film about the kidnap and torture of women. Its great to look at but I have yet to determine why I should want to watch it. Don't get me wrong it has nothing to do with refined sensibilities, I can enjoy twisted exploitation as well as anyone, but there's simply something wrong.I think the problem with it is that its rather a dull movie. Terrible things happen to good looking woman...and thats about it. There is some attempt at character, but its not all that interesting. Its as if its trying to be more than the bondage porno it is.I had been drawn to the film when I had read several articles that mentioned its bad reputation, so when I found a cheap copy I figured I'd give it a try. Perhaps back in 1979 it was something, but today with these jaded eyes its unremarkable. I've seen films of every sort and this one didn't strike as much of anything.Will you find it offensive? If naked tortured women offends you, or you have stayed in the mainstream in your tastes, you probably will be offended or made uncomfortable, but for anyone else, this is probably going to bore you much more than it will shock or excite you. It has not lived up to its reputation.

Bogey Man Norifumi Suzuki's Star of Dave aka Beautiful Girl Hunter (1979) has been released in Europe by Japan Shock as Beautiful Girl Hunter, and the version is in widescreen, uncut and with original language. However, one sex scene has been optically censored/blurred as they always are in Japan. The film is based on 5-part animated series which itself was based on Masaaki Soto's adult manga. A young student is seemingly normal, but keeps a savage torture/bondage chamber in his cellar (he lives alone in a big house once his father died), and kidnaps school girls there for torture, sex games, rape and usually murder. There is one significant plot turn dealing with the film's brutal prologue, so there is no point in describing the plot anymore without spoiling this, and also beware other reviews which I've seen spoil this very badly.This is very Japanese film in its themes, as once again the subject matter is the darkest sides of humanity, and the film tries to ask are these things "inherited" or is human nature just rotten anyway and based on instincts. There is one character, a pure incarnation of evil which is very close to the main character, too, and their relationship is the main point in the film. This same theme of darkness is even more brutally and very disturbingly handled and depicted in Katsuya Matsumura's All Night Long trilogy, and especially in part two, Atrocity (I have seen only the first two films, haven't seen part 3 yet). Once human being gives power to his instincts to kill and enjoy other people's misery and pain, all hell literally lets loose. All Night Long 2: Atrocity is definitely among the most depressing and disturbing films I've ever seen, and it was even denied a theatrical release in Japan due to its dark and extreme nature. All Night Long trilogy has also been released by Japan Shock, but only on DVD. They are very worth purchasing for fans of extreme (and also intelligent, but hard to take) Japanese cinema. In Beautiful Girl Hunter, the Nazi crimes and WW2 is handled and mentioned couple of times, so the theme of evil is global in this film as it is in our world.Beautiful Girl Hunter uses some interesting camera techniques and details, and thus becomes even more noteworthy and worthwhile. At the end of the film, there are some elements found usually in Takeshi Kitano's films, like people between and among flowers and scenes at the sea etc. so it is obvious Japanese films are very unique and they have a style of their own. Camera is sometimes very twisted and used creatively, so this movie is technically very inventive.It is a must to tell that the film is definitely not for all audiences, since there are many vicious scenes of bondage, rape, torture and whipping of hapless girls captured by the disturbed youngster. The sex scenes are among the most realistic and natural I've ever seen, and if you've seen for instance Gaira's "Guts" series, then you know what I mean about the authenticity of those sex scenes. Women masturbate, and as it is so realistic, it is perhaps not just acting, so if someone feels this kind of sexual, violent and also perverse imagery is off putting, don't ever try to watch this film, or others of its kind. There is also one bloody killing as the boy stabs one of the victims in the heart with Naked Blood like geysir of blood. Despite these elements from extreme horror films, Beautiful Girl Hunter has its message and theme, and also some cinematic elements, but due to its imagery, the film is very hard to understand.The film is very slow moving, so it is not wise to try to watch this tired. There is not too much talk in many scenes and the film is very contemplative as a whole. I like this film and gladly give it 8/10 rating, and recommend it for fans of Japanese cinema, which is something that would never be made in any other culture, Western included.