“Every day at 3 o’clock I’ve been killing you in my daydreams,” murmurs low-rent hitman Shô (Yûichi Minato), haunted by the death of his girlfriend five years earlier and seeking revenge on the gangster who killed her, in director/writer Atsushi Yamatoya’s eerie, seedy and dreamlike noir with fractured, time-bending overtones of John Boorman’s POINT BLANK and Christopher Nolan’s MEMENTO. Yamatoya co-wrote Seijun Suzuki’s BRANDED TO KILL (released the same year as this), and the films are companion pieces in many ways: subversive and jarring with strange flashbacks, inexplicable dialogue and song lyrics (“My burning dumdum goes flying, bites the enemy’s neck”), inserts that shatter the fourth wall, and a dissonant free jazz score.

Produced by Keiko Satô, one of the few female producers in the underground Japanese pink film genre, the absurdly-titled INFLATABLE SEX DOLL is comparable to similar movies by American erotic auteurs Russ Meyer (FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!) and Radley Metzger at their most arthouse. The feverish S&M vibe and lurid B&W cinematography is like a junkie’s smack-induced nightmare: basically the cinematic equivalent of listening to the Velvet Underground’s “Venus In Furs” and “Sister Ray.” Recently rescued from the only surviving 35mm film elements by Rapid Eye Movies in Germany, and newly digitally restored by Craig Rogers for Deaf Crocodile.

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Video Quality

Inflatable Sex Doll Of The Wastelands debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p transfer derived from a meticulous new restoration of the only known remaining 35mm element conducted by Deaf Crocodile. It is important to note that the release print utilized was very damaged with numerous issues including missing frames, flickering, splice marks, and scratches throughout. The work put in by Deaf Crocodile allows this film to not be lost to the sands of time, but those familiar with the high bar established by the label may notice a few more blemishes than normal. The label should be praised for the hard work that went into making this look as good as it does against all odds.

The new transfer shows off a valuable amount of depth within the locales. Elements of the clothing and production design look wonderful in their clarity. The black-and-white photography captures the intended aesthetic of the feature with a firm handling of the material. Black levels hold up surprisingly well with no extraordinary instances of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is in respectable shape considering what they had to work with. The presentation is executed to its fullest potential with a Fidelity In Motion encoding effort. The dingy environments thrive in high definition with natural grain intact and nicely resolved. There is a favorable amount of detail present with notable textures on the outfits and the furniture. Deaf Crocodile has saved this feature with the best presentation possible.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray arrives with an exquisitely restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles). Dialogue comes through clearly without the sound effects or music stealing focus from pertinent information. No exchanges sound overly hollow or brittle. The film deploys valuable sound effects that are given the proper presence within the mix. Considering the elements that were available, the presentation holds up better than expected with sturdy fidelity and very little damage or other unwanted issues. The score emerges well in relation to the competing sounds. Deaf Crocodile has ensured that the audio journey of this one could match the video side of things.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of Inflatable Sex Doll Of The Wastelands arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes a 60-page, bound book featuring essays by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Japanese film expert and musician Chris D., and film critic Walter Chaw, and an interview conducted with producer Keiko Satô of Kokuei Films, conducted by producer Hiromi Aihara of Bewiz. This provides great insight into the film, the themes, the creatives, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film historians Arne Venema and Mike Leeder provide an engaging and informative commentary track in which they provide great context for Japanese cinema of the time and pink films, the background of the performers, the work of director Atsushi Yamatoya, the production of the film, and much more.

Tomorrow Won’t Be A Dream: A 13-minute video essay from journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson is provided that peels back some of the layers of the film.

Interview with Alexander Zahlten: A new 83-minute interview with film professor Alexander Zahlten, moderated by Deaf Crocodile’s Dennis Bartok. In this, they discuss the Pink Film subgenre in Japanese cinema, the legacy of Inflatable Sex Doll Of The Wastelands, and much more that is well worth viewing.

Restoration Demo: A three-minute look at the work that went into this massive restoration project.

Final Thoughts

Inflatable Sex Doll Of The Wastelands is a trippy journey that keeps you on your toes as you attempt to piece together the quilt of this narrative. The film is mysterious, exciting, and even darkly funny at times. You might feel lost in the maze at points, but those who engage with it will be rewarded with something uniquely interesting. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which delivers a strong A/V presentation and a valuable assortment of special features in lovely packaging. If you love what the label has been rescuing until this point, trust that they have continued the good fight with this one. Recommended

Inflatable Sex Doll Of The Wastelands is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.