All out sexy, bloody, violent action plus girls on bikes fighting girls on bikes as well as sorting out the yakuza. This may not be the most subtle of movies, although there is a fair amount of character development, but what this excels at is in the thrill quotient. Almost non stop, just one little comedy/slapstick moment of dubious taste and then it's back on the road. Not always easy to follow who is the baddie and who the even badder but our girls do have those wonderful breast tattoos so you can't go too far wrong. Missing a big fight out at the end and instead we get an explosion preceded by some of the most brutal beating of bound women you are likely to see. Not family viewing then but certainly a wow for everyone else.
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christopher-underwood2 January 2006
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Witchfinder-General-66623 May 2008I'm a great fan of Pinky Violence flicks, and "Sukeban Gerira" aka. "Girl Boss Guerilla" of 1972 is another sleazy and great example for this awesome Japanese Exploitation subgenre coming from the great Toei Studios. The film, which revolves around an all-female biker gang, stars two of Japanese Expoitation's greatest and most ravishing sirens, Miki Sugimoto and Reiko Ike in the leading roles, and once again features a lot of stylish sleaze that no Exploitation lover should consider missing. The beautiful and tough Sachiko (Miki Sugimoto)is the leader of the Shinjuku-based 'Red Helmet' biker girl gang. The tough girls, who have trade-mark tattoos on their breasts come to Kyoto in order to take over other girl gangs. After a while they get in trouble with the local Yakuza... While this is not necessarily one of the greatest Pinky Violence flicks I've seen (the absolute greatest of all are the "Joshuu Sasori" aka "Female Prisoner Scorpion" films with Meiko Kaji, and there are a number of other truly brilliant entries to the subgenre), it is definitely a very stylish one. Miki Sugimoto is once again stunningly beautiful and extremely cool in the leading role of tough girl Sachiko. So is fellow Exploitation goddess Reiko Ike, who plays Nami, a former gang leader who refers to herself as a 'lone wolf' and is the sister of a local Yakuza. Director Norifumi Suzuki is one of the most prolific directors in the field, most memorably with films like "Sex And Fury" of "Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom" in his repertoire, and he once again did a great Job with this little gem. "Girl Boss Guerilla" is very comedic in the beginning, and it gets very sleazy later. It is not nearly as gory as some other Pinky Violence flicks (such as "Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs", for example), but it gets pretty sadistic occasionally (as usual for the genre, there's quite some torture and lots of sweet revenge). A sleazy and immensely entertaining film, "Girl Boss Guerilla" comes along with a funky score, and stars two ravishing stars of Japanese cult-cinema, Miki Sugimoto and Reiko Ike. Miki and Reiko alone would be reason enough to see this film twice, and "Girl Boss Guerilla" even has a lot more to offer. Highly recommended to all my fellow Exploitation fans!
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EVOL6662 April 2006These films never tend to disappoint me - and GIRL BOSS GUERILLA is yet another enjoyable entry. Filled with tits, ass, violence, and sleazy/funny situations - this is definitely one for the exploit fans out there...
A rival girl gang takes over after a mini-battle against the local girl gang. The girls get on the bad-side of the local Yakuza gang when they start pulling jobs and cons in the Yakuza territory. Of course the girls ain't going' out like no suckaz...and the war is on!!!
Plenty more going on it GIRL BOSS than the above - too much to really get into in a short review. Tons of nekkidness (though of course no full-frontal - this is a Japanese film after all...) but it doesn't matter cuz this one is just so much fun. Not as "splattery" as some of the latter pinky entries - but plenty of hot Asian female flesh to feast your eyes on - along with an interesting and entertaining storyline. Some real classic scenes in this one (clap-train, anyone???) and will DEFINITELY appeal to the pinky and sleaze fans out there. Don't miss this one. 8.5/10 -
bauknin8 January 2006... because of the moments that are supposed to be funny, but just come off as juvenile instead. If those parts were taken out, this could be a great film. Stick with "Criminal Woman: Killing Melody" instead.
The idea of a Japanese biker gang comprised of females is a good one, but they don't do enough "criminal" activity to be believable, though their attempts at blackmailing are pretty fun to watch. The soundtrack is good (except for that song by that awful hippie singer), and the fashions are top notch, but that humor kills it. I'd expect that in some bland Hollywood comedy, but not from this genre.
If you do like this, you'll love "Criminal Woman: Killing Melody." That's almost a guarantee. -
Coventry16 March 2010Admittedly the Japanese exploitation cinema of 70's, and then particularly the so-called "Pinky Violence" movie trend, wasn't my personal biggest area of cinematic expertise but I've learned a lot in one week through watching a handful of classics. I even learned some Japanese, like I know that the term "Sukeban" means 'delinquent boss girl' and refers to a series of films revolving on untamed all-girl biker gangs and their fierce adventures. Less impressive than the contemporary WIP efforts (like the "Female Prisoner: Scorpion" series) and less virulent than the Yakuza flicks (like "Sex and Fury"), but definitely great entertainment and quintessential cult cinema!
"Girl Boss Guerrilla" introduces the bad-ass Red Helmet gang, led by the self-assured and insanely luscious Sachiko. The girls proudly expose their sexily tattooed left boobs and fill their days by making illegal money, like through blackmailing religious monks and stealing charity money meant for the victims of the Hiroshima bomb. See, it's little details like that what make films like "Girl Boss Guerrilla" so provocative, scandalous and shocking for the time & spirit in which they came out. The girls head from Tokyo to Kyoto, where Sachiko promptly takes over the leadership of a local girl biker gang. This is naturally settled through a cat-fight where shirts are torn to shreds and eyes are nearly scratched out. Halfway through the film, Sachiko falls in love with an amateur boxer and the gang runs continuously in conflict with the male Yakuza criminals until war and deadly vengeance become inevitable.
This is another terrific Pinky Violence "classic" that has it all. There's plenty of kinky sex and turbulent violence, but particularly the demented sub plots and bizarre flashes of (unintentional??) slapstick make "Girl Boss Guerrilla" such a fascinating and compelling experience. There's the priest with an STD, sentimental guitar singing by a long- haired Japanese hippie and the random kidnapping of a boxing instructor's daughter. Excellent acting performances from the stunning Miki Sugimoto, the even more stunning Reiko Ike – who strangely enough keeps her clothes on throughout the whole film – and a whole lot of other unscrupulous Japanese beauties. -
Scarecrow-8824 February 2009The Shinjuku Red Helmet Gang, led by Sachiko(Miki Sugimoto)enter Kyoto to earn some extra cash getting mixed up with the dangerous Yakuza who run criminal operations within the city. Like several girl gangs alternating throughout the city, Sachiko's posse live to earn cash by any corrupt means necessary, through blackmail or conning any businessman or clergy in their path. Returning to Kyoto after some time away, Nami(Reiko Ike)is unwelcome by her brother who is a member of the Yakuza, the boss' right hand man. Nami was once the main female boss over all the girl gangs of Kyoto but decided this life was not for her, choosing to be a "lone wolf". Meanwhile, Sachiko becomes an adversary of the Yakuza who want money they earn themselves. Sachiko falls in love with an up and coming boxer, Ichiro(Michitaro Mizushima)who rescues her from a potential life threatening situation when she attempts to murder a loathsome nemesis for whom she defeated to gain the title of boss in Kyoto, falling into the hands of the Yakuza goons. Ichiro's fighting skills are unmatched, but associating himself with Sachiko brings danger to his trainer, for the Yakuza wishes to earn 50 % of the take at boxing matches. When Ichiro rescues her from almost having her arm taking off by a band saw, he pays an ultimate price and Sachiko will do whatever it takes to get revenge.
The film gives a small portion of the plot to Nami and her disintegrating relationship with a brother whose ruthless royalty to the Yakuza knows no bounds. If you like biker gals with attitude, whose sole purpose it seems is to raise havoc, making a living off of those with secret sexual appetites on the streets of Kyoto, with cat fights breaking out between opposing forces, then this will suit your fancy. Lots of tits, the Red Helmet gang's crest is tattooed on their breast. Like the Yakuza, the girl gangs operate through a code of honor, but loyalties are often betrayed. There's a pretty intense torture sequence where Sachiko attempts to murder the Yakuza boss and is whipped and beaten within an inch of her life. The pace, as expected, moves appropriately without any lulls which is nice, but there's really not much of a plot to speak of. Some comedy is included such as the reactions of those who fall prey to the Red Helmet gang(..a constant target are priests)and when one of the members gives several Yakuza hoods the clap. The violence is rather tame for the most part until the torture sequence which comes late into the film. The Yakuza in this film are sadistic, but awfully vulnerable and the boss doesn't really arm himself with the appropriate numbers such a Japanese mob is normally equipped with. That and, for the most part, the thugs are rather clownish and not exactly imposing. The way Sachiko dupes them requires a stretch of credibility, but is satisfying because of their actions towards her. For the exception of Ichiro, there aren't very many sympathetic characters..most are corrupt in one way or another. The filmmakers really attempt to establish the intensifying sexual relationship between Sachiko and Ichiro, so that the final half will have greater impact. The violence between women fighting for honor or bragging rights, features mostly hair-pulling, swinging punches(..which sometimes miss despite what the sound effects would lead you to believe), heads bashed up against walls, and rolling around on the ground in a tussle. I love the idea of an ongoing battle between male Yakuza and a biker gal gang. -
Uriah4319 February 2017This movie begins with four young women who belong to a gang known as "the Red Helmets" riding motorcycles from Tokyo to Kyoto with the idea of making a few bucks by pulling a few con jobs here and there. However, once they finally get to Kyoto they encounter an assembly of the female gang members living there who tell them to get out of town. This prompts the leader of the Red Helmets, "Sachiko Kiyami" (Miki Sugimoto) to challenge the leader of the Kyogoku Group named "Rika" (Ryoko Ema) to a fight--with the winner taking over everything. Although Sachiko wins the fight, she soon finds out that being a girl boss in Kyoto is much more difficult than than anything she expected. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this movie was pretty much a standard "Pinku Eiga" film made during this particular time in Japan but with the added benefit of having several attractive actresses like Emi Jo (as "Yuki"), Miwako Onaya ("Tatsumi"), Kyoko Tsukasa ("Kazuko") and the aforementioned Miki Sugimoto thrown in for good measure. In any case, all things considered I found it to be somewhat entertaining and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
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rabbit5417 December 2005I'm really torn between this movie and Criminal Woman: Killing Melody, both of which are in the Pinky Violence box set. They're both really good, with the stories being similar (gangster girls go for revenge against the Yakuza who did them wrong) and they both have Miki Sugimoto and Reiko Ike. But I think this movie gets an edge, 'cause in this one the girls are part of a BIKER GANG. And the all have TATTOOS OVER THEIR LEFT BOOBS. Which is so effing cool.
Here we get Miki as the leader of a biker gang from Shinjuku who go to Kyoto and end up taking over the girl gangs there (the scene where the girls face off and do their gangster "who I am" speeches is really cool). Reiko Ike is running around as the sister of one of the local Yakuza and won't align herself with Miki and her crew but serves as kind of a "big sister"/authority figure to the girl gangs of Kyoto.
Eventually Miki and the girls get on the bad side of the local Yakuza boss and the girls hit the road to meet up with Miki's boyfriend, a boxer in training down the coast. He gets himself murdered by the Yakuza as a result and it becomes time for Miki and her crew to make up with Reiko and get down with some revenge.
What I really dig about these movies (as opposed to the "Battles Without Honor and Humanity" movies my boyfriend is always bringing home) is that the female leads have some dimension to them that you wouldn't normally expect in an "exploitation" film. I didn't really like Miki's character at first (she was bratty) but I actually felt it when her boyfriend got killed. Up till then she seemed kind of a like a one dimensional power junkie bitch with cool sunglasses, but watching her meet and fall for Michitaro Mizushimi and her grieving at his death filled her out and made her feel like an actual woman. You know, complicated and conflicted.
In fact, as an exception to "action" movies the one-dimensional characters in this film are all men. They're simply greedy or sadistic or horny. Which I'm not saying is a good thing. It's just a nice change of pace.
And did I mention the tough-ass tattoos? -
Not Norifumi Suzuki's best, but still a reasonably enjoyable exploitation effort. A female motorcycle "gang" (five women), led by the smoking hot Miki Sugimoto, tangle with a bunch of no-good Yakuzas and get beaten and tortured for their efforts. As usual, Suzuki throws in a blasphemous subplot -- this time concerning a clap-ridden priest -- and dishes up another thread involving the blackmailing of a carnally inclined monk and nun. Central plot point has Ms. Sugimoto falling hard for a boxer who steps in at one point to save the bacon of her gang. The girls aren't particularly vicious and the exploitation elements are restrained. A musical number by a Japanese hippie guitarist is pretty artless and ludicrous, too, because he plays his guitar on-screen while what we hear on the soundtrack is a piano piece. As noted, Sugimoto is a very sweet piece of Nippon flesh and excels in all the important departments. Certainly worth seeing, but there's nothing exceptional here from the esteemed director of "Beautiful Girl Hunter", "Sex and Fury" and "Convent of the Holy Beast".
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zetes20 February 2006Good Japanese cult film with everything a cult movie needs: girls on motorcycles, cat fights with exposed breasts, nuns (also on motorcycles and with exposed breasts), groovy 70's music, and plenty of BDSM. The girls are really hot, especially the lead, Miki Sugimoto. My cult arch-nemesis, Reiko Ike, is also in it, but she's not too bad here. She doesn't get naked and her hairstyle hides her chubbiness. The film is exciting and fun, though it does lack drive. The plot takes a long time to emerge. My favorite part is when a folk singer puts his fingers to his guitar strings and it emits piano music. I'm still kind of glad that I haven't purchased the Pinky Violence set (I'm getting the discs through Netflix), but this film almost would have made it worth it.
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lastliberal30 December 2008The British may have their video nasties, but the Japanese "pink" is much more exciting.
Sachiko (Miki Sugimoto from the Red Handcuffs episode of Zero Woman) is the leader of a girl gang from Tokyo. We aren't 5 minutes into the film when she is unzipping her leather to show a flower tat covering her entire left breast to a group of harassing males, which the gang dispatches quickly. I thought that may be the leaders sign, but later in Kyoto all the gang is topless with the same tat which they are applying to a new member - a nun.
The nunsploitation angle continues as they take pictures of a nun getting a real religious lesson from a monk and use them for blackmail.
There is a lot of fighting in the flick - mostly girl on girl - and that leads to some ripped blouses, of course. There is also a whole lot of sex, as one of the gang members seems to want it frequently.
But, the thrust of the film is the girl's constant scrapes with a yakuza gang, and after losing a friend to a yakuza knife, she gets even more determined to do something, which ends up in a stunning scene of torture.
Sugimoto does a good job and has help from some other good actresses in this wildly entertaining sexploitation film that has elements of nunsploitation, torture, golden showers, and even a little incest. -
The_Void14 July 2008Well, it might not always make sense and it certainly does have far too much going on - but Girl Boss Guerilla is yet another excellent and extremely entertaining dose of Pinky Violence that is sure to delight anyone in love with this bizarre genre. The chief thing that makes this films so enjoyable is simply the fact that the focus is always on entertainment and while this is sometimes at the expense of coherency, that's really not too important. As usual, the film is peppered with various plot and sub-plots - some connected and some not - and writing out a complete plot summary for this film would take some time! The basic plot, however, focuses on an all-girl group of bikers that move into a new town and take on the local bike gang, eventually muscling in on their rackets and pinching their money. It's not long before the girls' actions catch the attention of the local (male) Yakuza and they're none too happy about having the biker girls in town! A war between the two is broken out, eventually leading to a bloody showdown.
The film is extremely violent as you would expect, but director Norifumi Suzuki clearly has a sense of humour also and some of the scenes in the film are delightfully funny. This does provide some entertainment, although it also means that the film can be a little hard to take seriously - for example, the lackadaisical nature of the Japanese Yakuza shown in this film doesn't exactly correspond with their reputation or actions. The film utilises the talents of two of the genres finest actresses in Miki Sugimoto and Reiko Ike. The two provide amicable and believable leads and do actually manage to cut imposing figures. One of the things I liked most about this film is the trademark of the girl biker gang - a tattoo over the left breast, which is just the sort of thing I'd like to come into fashion these days! The violence is all very comic book styled and way over the top, which is sure to please; although it's not actually quite as graphic as some of the other Pinky flicks. Overall, this is a great example of the genre - its fun and entertaining all the way through and never gets boring for a second - which is exactly what is needed from a film like this. HIGHLY recommended! -
nogodnomasters2 May 2019They shake down people for money, one of the girls is a bit of a nymphomaniac. They take over the girl gang in that city, but must pay homage to the Yakuza, which they don't but infect with the clap.
The film includes cat fights, a passed out nude girl being groped, and a naked girl being beaten with a bamboo broom. Not much in plot. High in 70's camp value. The girls ride Yamaha bikes, although at a distant it looks like they have muscular stunt doubles.
Implied sex. Nudity, especially if you like tattooed breasts.