Watch Black Lizard

Black Lizard is a stylish and surreal crime thriller directed by Kinji Fukasaku in 1968, based on a series of detective novels written by bestselling author Edogawa Rampo. The movie centers around the infamous titular character, a glamorous and flamboyant female thief who leads a gang of criminals on a quest for a rare and priceless diamond called the Tears of the Madonna. She is played by Akihiro Miwa, a well-known performance artist and singer who was a popular icon of Japanese counterculture in the 1960s.

Black Lizard is an eccentric and colorful character who wears extravagant costumes and loves to play cat and mouse games with the police as well as with her opponents. She is an androgynous figure who blurs the lines between gender and sexuality, and whose charisma and charm captivate both men and women. She is a master of disguise and deception, and her schemes involve intricate heists, kidnappings, and seductions. She is not only a criminal mastermind but also a romantic dreamer who longs for a perfect partner who could match her wit and daring.

One such partner is played by Isao Kimura, who portrays Detective Akechi, a famous investigator who is known for his intelligence and intuition. Akechi is hired by a wealthy collector to protect the Tears of the Madonna, which he has acquired through dubious means. Akechi is initially skeptical of the collector's motives and suspects that he might be involved with the Black Lizard's gang. However, when he meets the collector's daughter, played by Kikko Matsuoka, he becomes intrigued by her beauty and intelligence, and she in turn becomes attracted to his charm and wit.

The Black Lizard, meanwhile, has set her sights on the Tears of the Madonna, and she devises a plan to steal it by kidnapping the collector's daughter and holding her as a hostage. Her aim is not only to obtain the diamond but also to seduce Akechi and make him her partner in crime. Akechi, however, is not easily swayed by her charms and is determined to catch her and bring her to justice. The stage is set for a thrilling and unpredictable showdown between the two forces of good and evil, each with their own unique quirks and ambitions.

Black Lizard is a movie that is notable for its innovative and experimental approach to storytelling and visual design. The director, Fukasaku, was known for his genre-defying films that blended elements of action, horror, and drama, and his collaboration with Miwa, a gender-ambiguous performer who challenged cultural norms of sexuality and fashion, created a unique and unforgettable character that transcended the boundaries of conventional female roles. The movie is also noteworthy for its use of intricate and elaborate sets and costumes that reflect the decadent and exotic atmosphere of the story.

The movie is a feast for the senses, with its kaleidoscopic color palette, jazzy soundtrack, and bizarre and surreal sequences that defy logic and reason. It is a movie that celebrates the power of imagination and fantasy, and it invites the viewer to enter a world of adventure and danger that is both thrilling and exhilarating. The movie also offers a commentary on the nature of love and desire, and how they can be both destructive and redemptive forces in human lives.

In conclusion, Black Lizard is a daring and visionary movie that stands as a testament to the creativity and audacity of Japanese cinema in the 1960s. It is a movie that continues to inspire and influence filmmakers and viewers around the world, and it remains a timeless classic of genre-bending cinema.