I don’t really believe in the term ‘guilty pleasure’, because to me campy movies can be a genuine artform if a filmmaker fully commits to the bit in a clever way. As such, I reject the idea of anyone having to feel guilty for enjoying this. This is very much the _Commando_ of the 90s, it’s exactly the adult cartoon it wants to be. Every sound, editing and acting choice reinforce its ridiculous, over the top vibe. Not all of it is tasteful (particularly the way it uses music kinda sucks, and the excessive slow-mo could’ve been reigned in), but the movie is memorable because of the entertaining action sequences, dumb (but good) comedy and schlock horror influences. Just imagine Quentin Tarantino and Sam Raimi teaming up for an exploitation movie, and you’re close to what this is. Would it be a better movie if it genuinely tried with the script? Maybe, but it would probably be less entertaining. Overall, while I definitely can’t guarantee that anyone will like it, I thought this one was quite fun. 6.5/10

I'll leave you with a few stray thoughts that came to me during this viewing of Riki-Oh. What the fuck!!! (several times) Hilarious and Gory!!! Is that badguy really a woman? I need to check afterwards... Where did they find all this…“talent”? That is one ugly bastard!!! That is a fuckton of minced meat!!! I love it!!!

I feel like that isn't what happens when you punch people.

I love silly camp films and this one started off great. Although I can’t exactly put my finger on the reason, it started to feel long for me about mid way in. I’m thinking it’s the rinse and repeat formula that remains the constant in this film. Still, it was fun for awhile.

Riki-Oh is a bizarre B-movie that exists within it's own universe. The movie has quite a reputation and I had heard about it years before seeing it. It shocked me when I first saw it. This is a zany, disturbing, over-the-top, and comically violent manga-come-to-life. There's nothing quite like it. For a variety of reasons, this film is a strange favorite that I revisit every few years. This experience is definitely not for all tastes - and some might think it... tasteless (they're not wrong). That typed, if it hits, it hits - and may leave a mark... or, in the world of The Story of Ricky, it may just cause you to explode. An exception to the rule (of listening to films in the original language), if you understand English, the version with the terrible dub is the right way to view this movie.