Female Convict Scorpion – Jailhouse 41

When charismatic Scorpion ('Lady Snowblood' Kaji, who captivates without speaking a word) leads a prison break of women inmates, soon-to-be promoted governor Watanabe vows to make her pay. Visually and sonically stunning, the movie, which is based on a manga by Toru Shinohara, grows increasingly dark as the women trek through the grey volcanic landscape and their crimes are gradually revealed. The heavily stylised result will delight devotees of Kitano's recent oeuvre [2004] and Japanese horror movies generally. The film lent some of its music to Kill Bill, and is said to have inspired Lucy Liu's O-Ren Ishii character in Tarantino's revenge drama.