Tweet
Released by: Impulse Pictures
Released on: June 12, 2012.
Director: Kurahara Koretsugu
Cast: Murakuni Shohei, Asami Ogawa
Year: 1977
Purchase From TLA Video
The Movie:
A young director given his first crack at a feature by Nikkatsu after the studio switched their focus to the successful Roman Porno films they were churning out in the seventies, Kurahara Koretsugu had a fairly prolific run with this sort of material. Considerably lighter in tone, albeit not in subject matter, his 1977 film Eros School: Feels So Good (his penultimate film for Nikkatsu) begins when a male student at the titular school daydreams in class about having sex with Miso (Asami Ogawa), the captain of the girls' track team and the most popular girl in school. It seems a lot of people around the school are obsessed with her, including a teacher or two.
The school finds itself with a bit of a more serious problem when a new exchange student named Ryu (Murakuni Shohei) shows up for class. Recently released from reform school where he was sent for raping a bunch of his previous classmates, Ryu makes it clear from his first day that old habits die hard. As he rapes his way through most of the female student body, even taking one of the girls from behind in the ladies room while her teacher lays on the floor beneath them, unable to look away, he sets his sights on Miso. Meanwhile, the female track stars of an opposing school decide to make sure that Miso really is 'all woman' be checking her sex, but wouldn't you know it, Ryu shows up just in time to rape one of the would be inspectors before they can see for sure just what exactly hides between Miso's legs. It all comes to a mind numbingly bizarre conclusion as Ryu puts on some red briefs and charges around the school all rape crazy, while his prized pig is left alone and very, very vulnerable.
It's hard to describe Eros School: Feels So Good as anything but a rape comedy, not a combination you often see in movies, but hey, here it is. Throw in some bizarre physical slapstick, graphic menstruation, a couple of completely hilarious singer/songwriter moments and the ultimate plight of our poor porcine friend and you've got yourself one completely fucked up movie. Ryu the rapist has got to be one of the goofiest antagonists in cinematic history but he does what he does well, much to the eventual delight of his victims. Oh sure, they protest at first but after Ryu has started they tend to submit sooner or later - he knows they want it and he's going to give it to them. It's all pretty horrible when you think about it but played here with such obvious comedic intent that, right or wrong (and it's very, very wrong) you can't help but laugh it off.
Whether Kurahara Koretsugu meant for this to be taken seriously is probably debatable but it would seem to be designed as a comedic feature despite the graphic and sometimes legitimately shocking nature of the movie. It goes for the gross out a couple of times, and definitely shows no restraint when it comes to breaking some taboos but you never get the impression that anyone involved is particularly put off by any of what happens. The film is populated by perpetually horny characters and only perpetually horny characters, from the students at Eros School to the faculty to the girls from the rival house of higher learning - they all just want to get laid and some of them even write catchy little songs about it.
This is definitely one for the books…
Video/Audio/Extras:
Eros School: Feels So Good looks good in this 2.35.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Colors are handled well and look quite natural as do skin tones, of which there are loads on display. Black levels aren't quite inky deep in every single scene but overall they are solid and detail is generally strong across the board, even if some scenes appear to have been shot with an intentional softness in mind. There are no issues with print damage to complain about and overall this is a surprisingly clean, sharp, good looking picture.
The Japanese language Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono track is crisp and clean. The levels are well balanced and there are no issues with hiss or distortion and the various moans and groans of the female students come through with the appropriate amount of sex appeal. The optional English subtitles that are provided are free of any typos and easy to read.
Extras on the disc are limited to a menu and chapter selection, there's no trailer here. Inside the case is an insert containing original poster art for the feature and liner notes from film scholar/author Jasper Sharp that focus on the evolution of the Roman Porno line and the output of director Kurahara Koretsugu and his more prolific older brother, Koreyoshi.
The Final Word:
So yeah, Eros School: Feels So Good… who doesn't enjoy a good school girl rape comedy every now and then? Impulse has done a fine job bringing this one to DVD, it looks and sounds very good, but you have been warned… seriously, what the fuck?
