Asakura (Yusaku Matsuda- Black Rain) appears to be just another accountant wedged into a cubicle at Towa Oil. But, he is in fact a notorious thief working inside the company. He's recently done a bank heist and is looking to convert the traceable cash into a large supply of heroin. So, he takes to the streets and begins roughing up junkies to find the cities major supplier, Isokawa. The two strike a deal, though Isokawa tries some backstabbing. Asakura turns out to be a little too wily even for the drug baron and his goons, thwarts their plans, and makes off with the dope.

This sets into play his second and main big score- that of weaseling his way into Towa Oil's higher ranks. He's been wining and dining his bosses mistress, Kyoko, keeping her hooked on smack, and using her to get inside information about his bosses plans. Turns out the higher ups are in a panic over blackmail (courtesy of a cameo by Sonny Chiba) and a possible corporate takeover. The bosses are quite willing to spill some blood to stop this, and Asakura is ready to capitalize in any way he can.

Now, it isn't like Resurrection of Golden Wolf has long scenes with Akaskura filling out paperwork or anything. The office job is, after all, just a cover. But you can still see how Japanese corporate drones looked at the idea of a accountant by day/groovy thief by day and said, "Finally, a film that speaks to me." I figure there is some man out there trying to cure cancer but at night he dreams of being a hot-blooded mercenary having his way with exotic prostitutes. Most guys, I'm afraid, really are just that simple.

Yusaku Matsuda was a big macho hero star. Befitting such a star, Asakura is one of those flaw filled anti heroes, a guy fallen over the edge, yet still just so damn macho, any woman is his, and he can just as easily talk his way out of a firing squad as he can shoot back and come out unscathed. And, his afro is a force of nature.

As a piece of 70's cinema, Resurrection of Golden Wolf is fairly entertaining and suitably groovy. Is it misogynistic? Uhhh, yeah. In one bit, Asakura does interrogate a woman by pressing her up against a chain link fence and rubbing her boob, thus implying he would rape her if she wouldn't talk. On the flipside it has a scene between Asakura and Kyoko turn comical with the two appearing bored, smoking and eating while doing their dirty business. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to go pretty much nowhere. By the end, it has used up its cool factor, and we are left with a whimper of an ending and a weird, hard to figure aniti-hero.

The DVD: Adness

Picture: When it comes to my older exploitation, I really don't have very high standards. This print is pretty rough around the edges but still very watchable. Wear and tear is very present, not so much with spots and dirt as much as fading around the bottom and left frame throughout several scenes. Grain, sharpness and color levels are acceptable considering the genre. Contrast tends to get a little faded, which hampers the already very (intentionally) underlit scenes in Asakura's apartment, which is dark, dungeon like, and hard to discern.

Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese language with optional English subtitles. The score is very lively, 70's jazzy funky stuff with everything from a MOOG to Spanish guitar. Dialogue track is fairly distortion free, and the subs are quite good.

Extras: Liner notes— Trailers for Resurrection of the Golden Wolf, Never Give Up, Shadow of the Wraith, Shikoku, Inagumi and Isola.

Conclusion: I was won over by the first half of the film. It was 70's cool, with big sunglasses, Japanese afros, and a lead who was one bad mamma-jamma. But, by the end it just sort of repeats itself and you realize they didn't have a tidy way to end the thing. Still, it has some good moments and a Sonny Chiba cameo doesn't hurt, so it is worth checking out, though probably just as a rental.