Black Tight Killers

After wooing stewardess Yoriko (Chieko Matsubara, Tokyo Drifter), war photographer Hondo (Akira Kobayashi, Battles Without Honor and Humanity) sees her kidnapped by a team of deadly female assassins who use vinyl records as weapons. Investigating her whereabouts, Hondo uncovers a conspiracy to steal a buried stash of WWII-era gold. Soon he must dodge go-go dancing ninjas and chewing-gum bullets to save Yoriko, whose family secret is tied to the hidden treasure. Every bit as stylish and inventive as the wildest works by his mentor Seijun Suzuki, Yasuharu Hasebe’s spy spoof is a gaudy 1960s pop delight that ranks with the likes of Joseph Losey’s Modesty Blaise and Mario Bava’s Danger: Diabolik!

SPECIAL FEATURES

High-Definition digital transfer
Uncompressed mono PCM audio
Audio commentary by Jasper Sharp
Archival interview with director Yasuharu Hasebe
Trailer
Optional English subtitles
Sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow

Year: 1966
Cert: 15
Format: Blu-ray
Region: AB
RAD043BD
EAN: 5060974680818
Release date: 24/03/25

Press & Awards:

"insanely stylised... a hoot from start to finish" - MidnightEye

"A delirious pop artifact on a par with The Tenth Victim (1965) and Danger: Diabolik (1968)" - TVGuide

"Black Tight Killers is arguably the apotheosis of the Nikkatsu “borderless action” film. Tethered to reality by only the thinnest of cords, it is a swirl of color, sexual tease, heroic derring-do, bullet bras padded with explosives, comic-book female ninjas, and action, action, action, featuring Akira Kobayashi at peak grin, complete with wink, bare-chested muscles, and Elvis hair-do." - Japanonfilm

"While maverick director Seijun Suzuki has become a cult favourite example of Japanese cinema at its most excessive and stylized, Black Tight Killers offers an equally dazzling display of pop art compositions, groovy music, and outrageous plot twists" - Mondo-Digital

Japan

Black Tight Killers

Elegant Beast