Teruo Ishii

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I was informed this afternoon that director Teruo Ishii died on Friday of complications from Lung Cancer. He was 81 years old.

I had been in contact with him through director Junichi Suzuki and Ko Mori (both of Eleven Arts) and was aware of recent health concerns, but his passing still comes as quite a blow. The Panik House release of Female Yakuza Tale may serve as an introduction to the films of Teruo Ishii for many, and it will be my honor to contribute to the legacy of this great director whose seminal works include the Abashiri Prison series and Horror of the Malformed Men. Panik House had recently acquired the North American rights to Screwed (aka Wind-up Type) and Blind Beast Vs. Killer Dwarf, the latter of which proved to be his final film. I can assure you that both will receive exceptional attention to detail, making them the definitive world editions that would have made Ishii-san proud.

He will live on forever in our memories.