Vermilion Pleasure Night Vol-1: Optic Erotica (2001)
Director: Yoshimasa Ishibashi
Released by: ADV Films
By Jeffrey Couto

Introduction

Earlier this week I received a preview copy of what looked to be some type of Japanese live action show or movie called Vermilion Pleasure Night, nothing I had any familiarity with to speak of. The cover looked interesting enough so I checked out the back and read the summary, part of which included the following descriptive copy: “You’ve never seen or experienced anything like this rainbow-acid-hued, mind-tripped, sonic and sensual assault”. All around that copy are random photos of nurses, mannequins and monsters...now this, I thought, looked intriguing!

I still wasn't sure if this was a movie or a show yet, but I skipped it ahead of my review pile since it piqued my curiosity and I was looking for something rich in color to test out my new Macbook, which I just got from my local Apple Store!

So without further due here is our preview of ADV Film’s release of Vermilion Pleasure Night Vol-1, Optic Erotica!

Story

"Often sexy, sometimes profane-but always provocative-Vermilion Pleasure Night is a variety show that stands out even by the offbeat standards of Japanese late night television. Directed by Yoshimasa Ishibashi, the internationally acclaimed artist whose installations have greaced New York's MOMA and Lond's Tate Gallery, Vermilion Pleasure Night is a melange of strange and sometimes disturbing vignettes that holds up a cracked mirror to contemporary culture. Required viewing for the Japanophile, the college student, and the urban hipster! "-- DVD Description

Review

Please note that this is a preview of Vermilion Pleasure Night volume 1. The content, presentation, materials, etc reviewed in this DVD are subject to change.

I saw this DVD thinking I was in for a huge visual punch based on the box description, and boy did it ever deliver on that front, but more importantly it also hit me with an acid-filled sledgehammer of surrealism and a touch of sexy dark humor. The show itself is challenging to describe in its approach and style, but it would not be far off to say that in some ways it would be like mixing Saturday Night Live with Monty Python, cosplay and the stylings of many MTV liquid television segments, all spiced up with a layer of sexy glamour.

Each episode is made up of several segments, each of which varies in story, characters, settings, style of presentation and approach to humor. So you’ll have everything from a Geisha girl trying to teach an English word of the day to nurses using giant needles on three boxes with plastic buttocks on top and human faces in front while dancing to cool electronica music. There is no rhyme and reason for anything that happens and seemingly no one follows the same conventions and rules of living that we do in the real world, so each segment plays out to its own concepts of reality, which adds to the acid trip that this series ultimately ends up as being.

Sometimes this more modern-art/drugged up approach to comedy can backfire and end up being more style over substance than anything else, but the skits in Vermilion Pleasure Night work and manage to entertain not only our image chompers, but also our minds, which are really put to work when they get started on trying to comprehend the visual kaleidoscope that is this odd little show. Heck this series is so original that it’s just extremely hard to do justice to with words alone. Personally I would have LOVED to see this series pitched to the TV network executives. One can only wonder how the guys in suits and ties reacted to the proposal.

Personally my favorite vignettes were the soap opera story ones, which center around a young high school student dealing with everyday challenges. The premise is familiar, but teaming up a human actress with motionless mannequins is something else entirely and really needs to be seen to be appreciated. By far the best part of it was seeing her throw around all the people when they made her mad with their disciplinary stances. BTW speaking of mannequin soap operas Vermilion Pleasure Night is where the Fuccons (another ADV Films release) got it start from.

In terms of production values, each segment varies, with some being a visual feast of special effects (like the video of the girl who has zippers all over her body, which another girl inside proceeds to open to get out of her host) to others being nothing more than an actor on stage with a cheap looking set. This gives the show enough variety that you don’t necessarily know what to expect next. Costumes and props differ in quality depending on the situation too, with some being better than others.

DVD-wise this is a preview copy of the final product so menus, extras, and other goodies are not included. Video and audio quality here though was tremendous so the title, even at this early stage is looking good. Once we get a hold on the final copy of this release will let you know what, if any extras to expect.

Final Thoughts

This title is by far the most original DVD to pass by the Japan Hero labs so far this year. Much like with ADV Films’ release of Cromartie High School last year I think I would be inclined to say that this one is one of our most anticipated titles of the year. Can’t wait to see what the final shipping product shapes up as because if this DVD is any indication it’s going to be something unbelievably entertaining and hip all at the same time!

Vermilion Pleasure Night gets our highest recommendations!!!

Jeffrey Couto