Story: Its 19th century Japan and Billy Drago is in search of the love of his life, a prostitute he left behind years ago. What he finds in this brothel however includes crazed hookers, a strange midget pimp, a deformed girl and tales of torture, savagery and vengeance!

The Film Itself: Holy shitballs! That’s the only way I can open this DVD review. I’m sure you’ve already read it a dozen times elsewhere, but this was the “banned” episode of Masters Of Horror Season One. And while I don’t agree with censoring anything, especially if it’s on cable – ya know, a PAID SERVICE (dang!), I can completely understand why the suits at Showtime were a little stunned by this hour long episode! Look, if you’re familiar with the films of director Takashi Miike, then you know you’re in for some serious, demented shit. But wow. I’ve seen it all, and between this episode’s general freakiness and the graphic torture sequences, it was all even a bit too much for me! Let me put it to you this way... I will never show this to any of my female friends for fear that they will never talk to me again. I’m pretty sure Jay said it in his FIRST LOOK review, but when Billy Drago is the least weirdest thing about your film, then you’ve made something seriously fucked up! By far, the best episode of Masters Of Horror Season One, right along side Dario Argento’s JENIFER, which is why I didn’t mind buying this one too. (Even though that box set is inevitable! I know it! And I damn you, Anchor Bay!)

Special Features: All these Masters Of Horror discs are incredible when it comes to their features and this DVD is no exception. Honestly? I haven’t even made it thru all of this disc’s features yet. But I did watch an extensive making-of featurette titled “Imprinting: The Making of IMPRINT’ and it’s by far the best making-of segment of all the Masters Of Horror sets. Perhaps it’s because it covers the entire production in Japan and a lot of this stuff is fascinating to me. For example, there’s a segment on a speech couch teaching the mostly Japanese cast how to say their lines in English, even though they don’t fully understand what they’re saying. (One of the episodes weak points in my opinion was making it in all English. I would have preferred a sub-titled episode.) Mick Garris is interviewed on location in Japan about Miike’s episode. And it’s just great to see Miike himself getting so into directing this feature. There are points where he himself gets psychical and acts out some of the movie’s rougher moments, proving that if he could do it, an actor could too. Again, although there may be a box set coming, I loved this DVD and JENIFER. Those are the two I’d recommend buying, or at least renting. –Robg.