A young girl bears witness to her father's murder. This singular event provides the girl with enough venom to sustain her desire for revenge until she is mature enough to search for his killers and make them pay for their crime. That the young girl grows up to become the ever-naked Reiko Ike doesn't exactly hurt either.

Sex and Fury, the literal translation of which is Elder Sister - A Deer Amongst Wild Boars, is the best kind of trashy exploitation flick: visually assured, needlessly convoluted and full of nudity. The film's director, Norifumi Suzuki, has a keen eye for composition and colour, and much of Sex and Fury is absolutely beautiful to watch. However, spectacular widescreen vistas do not necessarily elevate a film above the confines of its genre, and although there are those who claim that Sex and Fury operates on a level of actual 'art' (and that's art with a capital A) the evidence to the contrary is substantial to say the least.

Which isn't to say that the film lacks artistry. It is a superbly made, highly entertaining romp with some, let's be honest, completely gratuitous sex scenes thrown in to the balance out all the swordplay (off which there is less than you might think). Add Christina Lindberg into the mix, here playing a spy whose grasp of English, and Japanese for that matter, is delightfully poor, and you're guaranteed and good time all round.

There is nothing wrong with a film simply doing what it does well, and Sex and Fury certainly delivers the goods with a surprising regularity. It is certainly far better made than many of the other films in its genre; it is well paced, memorable and, most of all, fun. It also contains a handful of masterfully conceived set pieces, the pinnacles of which are an early fight in the snow and a climactic battle on a staircase.

Sex and Fury is a genuine exploitation classic, and I am proud to see it sitting on my shelf beside Lady Snowblood and Lone Wolf and Cub (in particular Baby Cart In The Land Of Demons, which is, in my humble opinion, the best film in the series).

Highly recommended.