V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal Review
Simply put, it was Toei’s line of direct-to-video films from the 1980s and 1990s. Seeing the growth of VHS, Toei wanted to capitalise on this trend by producing films designed not to be fast-forwarded. While many genres were showcased, V-Cinema became best known for its crime and yakuza titles. Over the years, the term “V-Cinema” has come to refer broadly to all straight-to-video titles released during this period.
Arrow Video’s latest release, V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal, brings nine essential titles to Blu-ray. While this set will be an instant must-buy for already established V-Cinema fans, I’m unsure how effective it will be at attracting new ones.
The biggest barrier to entry, in my opinion, is understanding that these films are very much products of their time. From the 4:3 aspect ratio synonymous with VHS to their distinctive take on crime dramas — complete with over-the-top action set pieces — these films have a style that may feel dated to new viewers. Additionally, most films in the set run for about an hour and 40 minutes at most, so you’re not committing to three-hour-long epics. This ties into the key principle of these films being designed not to be fast-forwarded.
As you go through the set, you’ll soon realise that this mission statement wasn’t always successfully achieved.
The true highlights for me were Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage and Carlos, with my least favourite being Burning Dog.
Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage is an hour-long barn burner that never lets up for its entire runtime. The film follows police officer Joe Kawamura, also known as Joker, who seeks revenge for his partner, gunned down while arresting criminal Bruce Sawamura. While hunting Bruce, Joe is joined by Nun Lily, who is trying to retrieve five million dollars in donations that were stolen by Bruce. Even though it only runs for an hour, the film uses every second effectively, delivering a truly adrenaline-filled experience with fun, engaging shootouts and an over-the-top plot that keeps you on your toes from beginning to end. Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage was a great introduction to what was in store for the rest of the titles.
However, in my opinion, nothing else reached the heights of Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage — though Carlos came very close. This crime drama follows Carlos and his Brazilian-Japanese gang, who, after killing two yakuza members, see an opportunity to pit two rival yakuza clans against each other. The clan of the deceased believes the rival gang killed their men, not Carlos. The film starts thrillingly, with an opening filled with palpable tension that had me hooked. Watching how Carlos navigates this complex game of lies and betrayals is fascinating. However, by the halfway point, the film loses steam and slowly veers into boring territory, only to pull the reins back in during the third act with thrilling results.
Burning Dog is where the set kind of lost me. Opening with another thrilling introduction, we see a group of robbers slowly turn on each other — but then the story shifts to a new group of thieves who decide to rob a U.S. military base. What makes Burning Dog a slog to get through is its nonsensical plot. Many events occur without reason or logic, especially a bizarre affair subplot that leads the characters to act nonchalantly about major consequences. This disconnection made me question what I was watching. Even the heist itself felt lacklustre, with no real tension to speak of — a real letdown considering the strength of the other titles.
One area where Arrow Video never slacks in these releases is the special features. Every title in the set includes some kind of extra content, and they are all very good. I found them fascinating; I particularly adored the video essay by Jonathan Clements for Carlos, especially his breakdown of the film’s title. Additionally, the box art for this set is utterly gorgeous and will look perfect on anyone’s shelf.
V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal is another strong set from Arrow Video. While the quality varies from title to title — understandable given that they are products of their time — this will be a must-own collection for hardcore Japanese cinema fans, especially since it allows them to own an important part of history on Blu-ray. However, I believe that for newer fans of Japanese cinema, this release might not be worth it, as the titles are too niche for a casual audience.
★★★
Out on Limited Edition Blu-ray | 28th April 2025 (UK) | Arrow Video | Dir. Toshimichi Ohkawa, Banmei Takahashi, Shunichi Nagasaki, Kazuhiro Kiuchi, Yoichi Sai, Toshiharu Ikeda, Teruo Ishii, Yasuharu Hasebe, Masaru Konuma | Takeuchi Riki, Matano Seiji, Sera Masanori, Tanaka Minako, Aoyama Chikako, Osugi Ren, Yasuoka Rikaya, Aikawa Sho, Sakura Shiori, Abe Joji, James Fujiki, Harukawa Masumi, Hayakawa Yûzô, Ôki Minoru, Saijô Hideki, Nanase Kiyoshi, Nanase Natsumi, Tanba Tetsurô, Yo Kimiko, Kuno Makiko, Ôkura Johnny, Tokashi Katsuo, Shimizu Kôji, Kazama Maiko |18
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