Shogun's Sadism, aka The Joy Of Torture 2, aka Oxen Split Torturing, is a Japanese splatter film that should give you a certain impression based on its secondary titles alone. The film tells two stories set in Edo period Japan. The first story centers around a peasant girl who saves the life of a local guard by sucking the poison from a snakebite wound. They ultimately end up falling in love, but the woman and her family are suspected of being Christian, and the obligatory religious persecution begins at the hands of a cruel and sadistic official. The second story revolves around a prostitute and her lover (who works as the brothel's handyman). When the two try to escape from the brothel they are caught, and again, graphic torture ensues. It should go without saying but Shogun's Sadism is an extremely graphic film. There are strong depictions of beheadings, quartering, castration, immolation, branding and all other sorts of unpleasantries. There is also a slightly confusing scene featuring a women getting tortured via a hoard of puppies licking her naked body. At its core, its the realism that defines this film. Its presented in a way that draws you right into the period its set in. You can absolutely believe that everything you see on-screen was once the norm. And thats a scary thought.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
