The second film in a series of Japanese exploitation features, this regales us with the further adventures of a sexy young female convict named Matsu (Meiko Kaji), who's earned the nickname "Scorpion", as well as awe and admiration from her fellow prisoners. One day, she and six others are being transported, and they seize a chance for escape.More of a "criminals on the run" picture than a "women in prison" feature, this is wonderfully trashy, with depravity and gore galore. (Although the unaware should know there isn't much nudity, and it's largely male nudity.) The seven gals on the run are an interesting bunch, and in one musical sequence, we learn the nature of their crimes, and see that they're not all THAT bad, most of them, and garner more sympathy than their lawmen nemeses. Their tale is somewhat episodic, as, among other things, they encounter a sickly old woman, come across an abandoned settlement, take a bus full of hostages, and attempt to punish some horny tourists / rapists.This is a very stylish film, and people will marvel at the sharp "dutch angles" used by the filmmakers, and the various oppressive visuals. The finale, in particular, taking place on a garbage heap, deserves credit for being rather unusual. Director Shun'ya Ito proves to be a master of atmosphere right from the beginning, as we see what it is like for Matsu as she does her time in solitary. The music by Shunsuke Kikuchi is also noteworthy, as it is accompanied by plaintive singing.The acting is right on the money, with gorgeous Kaji making for a compelling central figure, stoic and already hardened by experience. She does receive some heavy competition from some of her co-stars, though.Certain to appeal to cult film fans for its balancing act of arty and trashy elements.Eight out of 10.

The Western of the series; Scorpion breaks out of a prison van with six other girls and they're all on the run from newly promoted Inspector Goda. Their adventure takes them through wooded forests, cursed witches, stakeout cabins in mountains, rapists by the rapids, bus jacking, police shootouts, and a second breakoutLess boobage, more humiliation, dumber cops, less violence, more anime, still sexy, still bloody, still art-house

In this sequel to "Female Prisoner #701-Scorpion", the inmate known as "Matsu" (Meiko Kaji ) has been captured after her escape and placed into a harsh isolated confinement by the warden. However, due to the arrival of an inspector she is allowed to make one brief appearance outside of her jail cell. She uses this opportunity to attack the warden and cause a riot among the prisoners after which she is tortured and then raped. Although humiliated and thoroughly despised by everybody she continues to endure and nurses her hatred for the day when she will be given a chance to obtain her revenge. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was an artistic "Women-in-Prison" film unlike anything else in the genre. Unfortunately, the heavy use of symbolism severely clashed with reality and in my opinion this caused the film to lose much of its credibility. In essence then, I would have preferred that it stayed more in line with the standard format. That said, although this certainly isn't a bad movie necessarily, I still have to call it like I see it. Slightly below average.

Another Sergio Leone influenced film in which the protagonist is the sort of character who would traditionally be a villain - a steely eyed, unsmiling killer (lead actress Meiko comes off like a female Charles Bronson) - who happens to be the only principled person in the film's bleak landscape of casual, opportunistic violence. In fact, the whole setting reads like an allegory for the breakdown of moral responsibility: authority figures are motivated not by honor or a desire for justice but by petty revenge. And out of this world (the prison) the main character escapes into something worse: the real world!