Director: Hideki Takayama Language Format: English Language Running time: 84 mins Certificate: 18 (cut) Label: Manga Video Catalogue no: MANV 1009 Price: £12.99 Release date: 14th June 1993 Box set version (with 'Legend of the Overfiend'): Language Format: English Language Running time: 190 mins Certificate: 18 (cut) Label: Manga Video Catalogue no: MANV 1198 Price: £24.99 Release date: 10th November 1997 DVD version (with 'Legend of the Overfiend'): Label: Manga Video Language Format: English Language Running time: 185 mins Certificate: 18 (cut) Catalogue no: MANG 2001 Price: £19.99 Release date: 11th June 2001
Like the first movie, #2 has been somewhat cut by the BBFC, so you'd better believe that it goes about as far as it's possible to go under British video censorship regulations. The storyline is not a continuation of the first movie but an alternative view of much the same events introducing some new characters. Much of WOMB is concurrent with the previous movie.
It begins with some action in Nazi Germany as Hitler's evil scientist Myunhi Hausen prepares to open the door into Hell. The machine fails to work, Hausen is killed and the whole area bombed. 50 years later, Hausen Jr. flies over Tokyo using his magic orb to summon the demon Kohoki of the Makai. The demon reluctantly agrees to aid him in his quest to destroy the Cho-jin. Further action draws in characters we have met in the previous movie.
The plot is fairly complicated but comes over on screen as stretches of confusing tedium interspersed with bouts of nastiness. It comes as quite a relief when there's a bit of normal erotica, as when young Nagumo engages in foreplay with his girlfriend, or when Nagumo takes cousin Takeaki to a strip club. The movie ends with a battle between two of the characters in their demonic incarnations. Seen one demonic battle, seen'em all and I didn't particularly care which one won. And if there was anything about a demon womb in it anywhere I must have missed it.
Altogether, this movie is a distinct disappointment after UROTSUKI DOJI, which, though unpleasant, was astonishing, disturbing and well enough scripted to engender a certain suspension of disbelief and an unnerving descent into nightmare and darkly beautiful visions. Not so with #2. where the visuals are less striking, and the convoluted but trivial plot doesn't suspend one's disbelief for a moment. Worse, none of the demonic/sex scenes are excused by the plot.
DOJI II does make efforts to develop our interest in the characters, and there are the erotic sequences... this isn't enough to make it worth buying. I don't imagine that these sentiments will deter many of those who liked the first UROTSUKI DOJI from rushing to the video shops: DOJI II reached the top 10 of the video charts. [Geoff Cowie]