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Teruo Ishii

Teruo Ishii

Director and writer · Died August 12, 2005, aged 81 · Tokyo, Japan

Teruo Ishii was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the Ero guro subgenre of pinku eiga such as Shogun's Joy of Torture. He also directed the 1965 film, Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1924
Died
August 12, 2005 (aged 81)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Director and writer
Titles
9 on MovieCove · 104 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 6% in 30 days

What are Teruo Ishii's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
36%
Morality
24%
Self
21%
Power
12%
Society
6%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 1 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 2 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Absurd
5
Dread
5
Thrilling
4
Cold
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Unsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Teruo Ishii's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 9 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Teruo Ishii's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

104 credits, 9 with a MovieCove page.

  • Teruo Ishii Fan Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Japanese Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Screwed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Burai-Heiya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Gensen-Kan Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Writer

  • The Legend of Kentauros (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Violent Fighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Danguard Ace vs Insect Robot Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • The Runaway Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Hobo General (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Detonation! Violent Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Screenplay

  • 300 Million Thief: Statute of Limitations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Detonation: Violent Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Writer

  • Great Jailbreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Executioner II: Karate Inferno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Executioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Military Comfort Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Screenplay

  • Yokosuka Navy Prison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Screenplay

  • Yakuza of the Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture(1973)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Lone Wolf and Cub (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 78 episodes · Director

  • Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Red Silk Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 6 - The Woman's Grudge Spirit Boat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Mysterious Thirteen Nights Volume 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 2 - The Dish Mansion at Hell’s Banchô (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Mysterious Thirteen Nights Volume 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Blind Woman's Curse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Prison Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Killer's Hit List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Horrors of Malformed Men(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Love and Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Yakuza Law(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Inferno of Torture(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Rising Dragon: Red-Hot Iron Skin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Shameless: Abnormal and Abusive Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Writer

  • Orgies of Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Joy of Torture(1968)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Hot Springs Geisha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Tokugawa: Woman's Genealogy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Once and For All Pt.２ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Screenplay

  • A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Once and For All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Editor · Screenplay

  • Secret Agent 101 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • The Bullet and the Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Evil Brain from Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • Prison Walls of Abashiri 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Prison Walls of Abashiri 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Invaders from Space(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Abashiri Prison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Writer

  • Atomic Rulers(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Attack from Space(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Editor · Screenplay

  • Storm Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Shogun's Vault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director · Screenplay

  • An Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Legends of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Defeat the Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Eleven Gangsters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Writer

  • Gang vs. Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director · Writer

  • G-Men in the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director · Screenplay

  • All Rascals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Yellow Climate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Mist and Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Flower, Storm and Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Death on the Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Screenplay

  • Fire Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Screenplay

  • Straight Talk on Romance: The Definitive Guide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Sexy Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director · Writer

  • Queen Bee and College Boy Ryu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Yellow Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Women of Whirlpool Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Writer

  • Black Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Fight to the Death in a Blizzard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Broken Blossoms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director · Writer

  • Queen Bee's Anger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director

  • Secret White Line Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director

  • Flesh Pier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Super Giant: The Spaceship and the Clash of the Artificial Satellite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director

  • Super Giant: The Artificial Satellite and the Destruction of Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Nude Actress Murder Case: Five Criminals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Super Giant: Earth on the Verge of Destruction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Super Giant: The Mysterious Spacemen's Demonic Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Super Giant Continues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Super Giant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • King of the Ring: The World of Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Omoide tsukiyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Adaptation · Assistant Director

  • Girl's Reform School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Assistant Director

  • The Tale of Jiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Assistant Director

  • The Shiinomi School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Assistant Director

  • Love Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Assistant Director

  • Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Assistant Director

  • Ginza Cosmetics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Assistant Director

  • Golden Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Assistant Director

  • A Mother's Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Assistant Director

Career shape

A full career of 104 titles from 1950 to 2006.

Highest rated

Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973)

Midcredits 73rd

Most popular right now

The Joy of Torture (1968)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 104: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting90 of 104: 29 only directing, 61 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thWriting66 of 104: 4 only writing, 62 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thProducing2 of 104: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleEditing2 of 104: 0 only editing, 2 with another roleOther crew9 of 104: 8 only other crew, 1 with another role

104 titles, 62 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 61 of them.

By decade

1950s22 · crew1960s50 · crew1970s24 · crew1980s1 · crew1990s5 · crew2000s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Teruo Ishii's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 9; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 9 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 9 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · director

Invaders from Space (1965)

85th percentile spread · 49% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973)

Midcredits 73rd · 63% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 36/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Teruo Ishii work with?

People who share at least 2 of Teruo Ishii's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kanji Amao shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers