The Epitome of Camp

o Black Lizard

1968 / Color / 86 Min. / Japanese with subtitles
Kinji Fukasaku, dir. / Cinevista Video

To say this film is over-the-top is a little like calling the Pope a Catholic. And unlike most films in the cult genre, it actually holds up well in a second viewing. It seems a contradiction for a film that screams camp at every turn, but this is a finely crafted piece of work. Not only does it maintain its truly unique stylization throughout, it actually has an understandable plot!

o A Fetching Reptile

The Black Lizard (Akihiro Maruyama) is a beautiful, sadistic criminal who collects expensive jewels and covets the Star of Egypt, a huge diamond in the possession of a wealthy dealer. So she plots to kidnap his daughter and ransom her for the diamond. In a take from a Batman comic, she anonymously alerts the dealer to her plans. And so the dealer hires Akechi (Isao Kimura), "the most famous detective in Japan," to protect his daughter. For the remainder of the film, Akechi and the Lizard match wits, each anticipating the moves of the other. Along the way they develop a mutual affection, but neither allows this to interfere with the work at hand.

Aubrey Beardsley prints are used throughout the film (during the title sequence, for transitions, etc.) and the choice is most appropriate. If Beardsley had lived during the 1960s, and I think he would have felt right at home there, he may well have made a film like this. Though perhaps with a somewhat different ending.

o Will he arrive in time?

Eventually, Black Lizard succeeds in kidnapping the daughter and gains the Star of Egypt as her ransom. But she has no intention of releasing the girl to her father. She has a most dastardly fate in mind for this ingenue. Now it is up to Akechi to rescue the girl and bring the Lizard to justice. But where is he?

I won't spoil the ending for you, but with this film, getting there is all the fun. Where else can a character utter the line, "Like the primordial dreams of lizards..." and have it actually make sense. If you have a place in your heart for camp, Black Lizard is a must-see.

-- Robert Stewart