Shintaro Katsu returns as the badass samurai policeman Hanzo in this sequel to Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice. This time out, he’s investigating the death of a young woman. He does some digging and discovers she had an illegal abortion. He traces the operation back to a priestess who is in cahoots with a crooked treasurer who is jacking up the price of gold. Hanzo, who abhors corrupt elected officials, sets out to see that justice is served.
Director Yasuzo Masumura brings a lot of style to this entry. The scene where the priestess preforms her abortion ceremony is eerie and colorful. It almost feels like something out of a Mario Bava movie. In another great scene, Hanzo is buried alive and heroically rises from the grave. Masumura also delivers on the action as the sequence where Hanzo busts up the priestess’ den of iniquity is stellar.
If you liked the first movie, you will have fun seeing the hallmarks of the series playing out once again. Hanzo is still beating his meat (literally) and ruffling the feathers of his superiors. Bad guys are still getting torn to shreds in Hanzo’s booby-trapped rooms. Hanzo is still dishing out his own unique brand of torture. (One scene gives new meaning to the term “sit and spin”.)
Yes, like its predecessor, Hanzo the Razor: The Snare features some pretty wild stuff. There’s lots of sex, depravity, and violence to go around. As in that film though, the third act gets a little too… conventional as the subplot about catching a thief who is planning to rob the Mint leaves Hanzo little time for his sexual and violent tendencies. Still, if you’re a fan of the original, or Katsu’s Zatoichi movies, you’re sure to find plenty to enjoy here.
AKA: Kung-Fu Hara Kiri. AKA: Fangs of the Detective: Hanzo the Razor’s Tortures from Hell. AKA: Razor 2: The Snare. AKA: Razor Hanzo’s Torture Hell.
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