The School of Hope is a reform school with the motto that they will turn female juvenille delinquents into "role model mothers and wives." The corrupt principal keeps the girls in line through the schools Disciplinary Committee, a group of sadistic students who relish in beating up and torturing any of the lot who get out of line. A trio of girls arrives who fight back at the punishment, Razor-blade Remi, bisexual sex-kitten Kyoko, and Noriko (Miki Sugamoto), who is, unbeknownst to the others, also known as the Boss with the Cross, a well-known gang leader from Yokohama.

A former gangmate of Noriko's died at the hands of the Disciplinary Committee and Noriko won't stand for it or being pushed around. Along with Remi, Kyoko, a rival turned ally (Reiko Ike), and two other girls, Junko the Jacker and Nobue the Pipe Basher, Noriko forms her own little gang intent on using whatever force and feminine wiles they have to ruin the principal, get revenge against the Disciplinary Committee, and bring down the very school itself.

Wow, the ladies of the Disciplinary Committee would make Tomas de Torquemada proud. They really have their torture techniques down pat, the least of which involves inserting a red hot light bulb in a subjects "hey now" and forcing the girl to do push-ups. Also wins major, exploitation film cool points for when Reiko Ike's character only agrees to postpone her fight with Miki Sugamoto if Miki's character can do a motorcycle barrel jump. Personally I think this is how all disputes should be settled- via motorcycle barrel jump.

This film, the second in the Terrifying... series, was directed by Norofumi Suzuki, who delivered quite a few good pinky violence films, from School of the Holy Beast to Sex and Fury. It's a rollicking film filled with sex, blackmail, torture (naturally), general seediness, and a great finale where it all comes to a head and the delinquent girls take over the school and engage in a revolutionary style school siege and battle with the cops. To say the least, the film is memorable. There is quite a bit of striking imagery and sadistic going-ons that will sear their way into even the most jaded exploitation viewers brain.

The DVD: Panik House.

Picture: Anamorphic Widescreen. A great transfer with the 30 plus year old film looking nice and clean but still wonderfully lurid. Good contrast. Nice color with vivid hues and balanced fleshtones (and there is plenty o' flesh). Sharpness is also nice and crisp. No blatant technical issues like compression defects or aliasing.

Sound: Dolby Digital Mono. Japanese language with optional English subtitles. Get your Whatchika-whatchika-whatchika on with the obviously 70's soundtrack. Solid sound with no troublesome source defects. Excellent subtitles appear to be well-translated as well as properly timed.

Extras: Sticker insert. — Bios and Production Notes. — Poster and Still Galleries. — Original Theatrical Trailer. Audio Commentary by author Chris D.

Conclusion: Previously released as part of the four film Pinky Violence boxset, Panik House now offers the film as single release for the more curious buyer. If you haven't been exposed to the wonderful world of classic Japanese exploitation and don't have the cash for a boxset blind buy, this is an excellent way to test the waters with a great example of the genre.