The fourth installment of the Angel Guts series, Tenshi no harawata: Akai inga (or Angel Guts: Red Porno in English) continues the franchise's signature blend of steamy erotica and brutal violence. Released in 1981, this "pink film" from director Toshiharu Ikeda is an unapologetic descent into the seedy underbelly of Japan, centered on the character of Nami, a department store employee.

Nami leads a rather solitary life, her sexual desires often going unfulfilled. However, when a colleague persuades her to fill in for a porno modeling job, her world takes a turn for the bizarre. Her appearance in the magazine, aptly titled Red Porno, sets off a chain of events that are as salacious as they are shocking.

Ikeda's film embraces the "pink film" genre, with sex being the driving force behind the narrative. However, it's the exploration of Nami's growing obsession with rape that gives the film its edge. A scene in which she visits another rape victim and takes pictures, only to be cautioned by a man from a sex club who claims to work for a porno publisher, is particularly memorable. It captures the film's ability to blend titillation with a darker, more disturbing undercurrent.

That being said, Angel Guts: Red Porno often feels like a retread of the ground covered by its predecessors. With a runtime of just over an hour, the film struggles to justify its existence beyond its shock value. The plot is thin, and the characters are largely one-dimensional, serving only to propel the story from one sexual or violent set piece to the next.

Where the film does show some spark is in its stylistic choices. The use of vivid colors and shadow, coupled with the grainy film stock, gives the film a distinct look that enhances the seedy atmosphere.

Overall, Angel Guts: Red Porno will appeal to fans of the pink film genre or those seeking out the more obscure corners of world cinema. However, with its reliance on shock value and a rather formulaic approach to storytelling, it fails to leave a lasting impression.

While the film doesn't quite reach the heights of erotic thriller greatness, it does provide a fascinating glimpse into a very specific subgenre of Japanese cinema, one that is unapologetically raw and provocative.

Yet another OK J-soft core flick. Arguably a step up from some of the previous entries in the "Angel Guts" series, it still never rises above it's own conventions.

A young man develops a crush on a girl in a porn magazine, who also happens to live near by. She sets out on a quest to meet her just as she is experiencing some stiff sex related life issues. She seems to be a nymph who craves regular sexual contact, but is unable to ever reach a real physical or emotional satisfaction from her encounters. Will they find happiness?

That's really all the story there is. It's a very run-of-the-mill sexual awakening story, one that film makers never seem to get tired of telling, no matter how trite it has become. Giving credit where it's do, there are a few interesting set pieces; most notably what a girl decides to do with an egg, a prophylactic and few pencils while pleasuring herself. Inspired moments like that will doubtlessly raise a few eyebrows, even as the filming ad-hears to the strict conventions of a Japanese sex flick (as in 'chest/rump' shots only).

All told, it is sexier than many similar films, but never goes as far as the greats like "In the Realm of Senses".

5/10

This forth film in the "Angel Guts" saga, which at only a few minutes above an hour (it just feels much longer) , is also the shortest, which is perhaps just as well as it's also the most uninvolving of the series.Nami, a department store clerk, is interested in another part time job. Her fellow worker at the department store introduces her to modeling for a porn mag called 'red porno'. But when her other employers found out about her naughty pictures they decide to fire her. And she gets some unwanted admirer. Oh yea and she likes to masturbate ..ALOT. Using various household items. The wall to wall sexcapades masks a lack of discernible plot and pushes this one far too much into exploitation territory, not unsurprising though given that the Director of this one is Toshiharu Ikeda ("Evil Dead Trap", "Beautiful Prey"). Perhaps his sensibilities just weren't suited for an Angel Guts film.

My Grade: D

DVD Extras: Commentary by Jasper Sharp; Bio/Filmographies; a 36 minute interview with Toshiharu Ikeda; Original Sleeve art; and Trailers for this and 4 other Angel Guts Films (High School Co Ed, Red Classroom, Red Vertigo, & Red Porno) all available in Artsmagik's Box-set, but for some reason the 6th film "Angel Guts: Red Flash" is not in the set