Riki-Oh The Story of Ricky

(Nam Nai Choi; 1993)

(Tokyo Shock / Media Blasters)

In the not-so-distant future, overburdened national budgets have forced the privatization of most government institutions. Even prisons have become franchised, commercial ventures. When the mild-mannered Ricky takes revenge on the drug-pushing thugs who killed his girlfriend, he is sentenced to an ultra maximum security prison. Within the prison walls lies a penitentiary like no other, rum by a host of evil characters, including a sadistic warden, his assistant, and The Gang of Four, a group of powerful fighters who control their fellow inmates through terror and ultimately death. But when he witnesses the brutality first hand, Ricky takes matters into his own hands, ferociously busting through cruel prison guards and bullying inmates. It’s only a matter of time before Ricky is granted saint-like status among the humble inmates. Fearing an uprising, the wicked warden sends his thugs to finish our hero once and for all.

What a wonderfully brilliant film. For years I had heard rabid fans applauding the violence and extreme brutality of the film but hadn’t really made the effort to track it down after the Synapse DVD went out of print. Lucky for me, Media Blasters re-released it. Riki-Oh has enough gore and bloodshed to appease even the most jaded of horror fans.. and then some. The effects are imaginative and extremely well done (although some of the effects reminded me of the last quarter of Dead Alive… fans know what I mean) but in essence some truly brilliant work on the part of the effects department. Unfortunately the film is severely lacking in the naked big breasted  lesbos in prison department, but that can be overlooked this time. Seek this one out this one is essential family viewing.

Good. Presented in Cantonese with a Dolby 5.1 track as well as Mandarin and English in 2.0 stereo.  Subtitled in Chinese or English.  

An adequate print. Much artifacting is present and the colors seem washed out at times. Widescreen 1.85:1

-             Original theatrical trailer

-          Cast & Crew biographies and filmographies

-          Synopsis (Bilingual)

Standard DVD keep case.

Sound: 7

Picture: 5

Special Features: 3

Packaging: 5

Film: 10

Overall Rating: 8

(Rating scale is out of 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 the best)