Satoru Ogura, infamous producer and writer, decided to make a series of films that could truly claim to be the worst of the worst. Since fans wanted something they could really sink their teeth into, Satoru decided to unleash upon an unsuspecting world a series called "Za Ginipiggu." These were to be fabricated snuff films that would satisfy the hardest gore hound and shock all those who dared to watch them. Little did he realize that the series would create such a worldwide controversy. - Taken from an article written by Stephen Biro of Unearthed Films.

In the late 80's this film gained noteriety when the tape was found in the collection of a Japanese serial killer by the name of Tsutomu Miyazaki. The crazy dude had close to 6,000 flicks, most of them graphic Hentai. It is said he re-enacted a scene from Flowers of Flesh and Blood, the second Guinea Pig film. Due to the controversy, the infamous series went out of print temporarily in Japan.

Yes, this is the real shit. These movies were made in the 80’s and early 90’s and now a bit over 15 years later is when we get a hold of them in the U.S. I am very excited to get a chance to see these films. But a lot has changed in gore history over the years. The effort that Satoru and his crew have made to deliver solid gore product is praiseworthy though the shock is not as strong as it used to. Let’s delve into Mermaid in a Manhole

The story is about a quiet painter whose wife supposedly left him for some reason or other and now he spends his days alone painting in his room and walking through the sewers. Yeah, he uncovers a manhole and walks around down there amidst the trash and contemplates his childhood, and of course paints. He grew up in this place and there used to be a river flowing through here. He would come here to be alone with nature and relax. He even has memory of meeting a mermaid.

So wouldn’t you know it, he meets the beautiful small breasted mermaid. I think she communicates with him telepathically. That’s freaking cool. So anyway he paints her as often as he could while she just stays down there and does nothing at all save pose for our painter. She must reek, being in the sewer and all, maybe like rotting fish! Logically, she develops an infection on her abdomen and our painter takes her to his place and places her in a bathtub and continues to paint her. To make a repetitious story short; she decomposes, growing worse and worse each day, with spreading sores allover her body and worms coming out of her sores. Oh yeah...she asks him to paint her portrait using the colored puss that comes out from her sores. Beautiful indeed.

The gore and makeup in this film is probably the coolest I have ever seen. From the detailed fish scales and texture on her tail to the spreading sores as they pulsate. Truly a pleasure to watch. They really went all out on this. I think that this film was the best it could have been. Maybe because it all happened too quickly or the story was weak. It felt that this movie relied 100% on the gore and on nothing else. That is fine by me and by those standards it’s a classic gore triumph, but I would have liked more story. Must have for any true gorehound!

- Jorge Antonio Lopez