After the end of World War II, Japan spent the best part of a decade in dire straits. When it did finally begin to emerge from a deep Depression, it no longer had its old confidence or self-belief. Previously strong nationalistic tendencies were eschewed in favour of copying its conquerors. American culture streamed into Japanese society, from fashion to music to cinema. Seijun Suzuki riffed off film noir, pulp crime dramas and westerns to make a whole host of stylish, irreverent B-Movies. Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! Is one of his best.
The yakuza are fighting the triads in a turf war. Chaos reigns across the city and things threaten to boil over at any moment. Into the middle of this gang warfare steps the charismatic Detective Tajima (Jô Shishido). He tasked with locating a stash of missing firearms as the police struggle to keep the peace. However, the more he investigates, the more he gets sucked into the criminal machinations. As the stakes keep rising, he embarks on a bloody rampage.
Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! is a dark, devilish and playful bloodbath, oozing style and a macabre tongue-in-cheek humour. Suzuki once again teams up with Shishido, a frequent collaborator, as they did so successfully subsequently on his best film Branded to Kill. The pair run absolute riot. Carnage abounds and it’s such good fun. Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! is great entertainment. A B movie with a touch of class.
Special Edition Contents:
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Newly translated optional English subtitles
• Interview with historian and Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
• Gallery of original production stills
• Theatrical trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin
Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! is released on Blu-ray by Arrow Video on 9 July.
