Is Rengou no onna Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2014)

📖 The Core Premise

Rengou no onna returns to the screen in 2014, bringing a fresh narrative to the Action, Drama genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Sachi runs an AV production company, that is attached to the Teito syndicate (="rengō"). She meets Mika, who has applied to become an AV actress in order to pay off her boyfriend's debts. When Sachi finds out that Mika is being abused by her boyfriend, she comes up with a plan to trap him and extort money from him. However, her boyfriend is backed by Madarame of the rival Daikyo syndicate. Madarame is none other than the one who raped Sachi when she was a high school girl. And so begins the conflict between the Teito and Daikyo syndicates."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Haruki Satou attempts to elevate the material, but the direction leaves them with little to work with. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Action. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Rengou no onna worth your time? If you appreciate Action, Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Rengou no onna misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 69 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.