Agony of the Shadow Beast (Odjurets smärtsamma njutning) – Blu-ray (Nikkatsu Super 8 Club Series, All Region) (Import/Sweden)

A distinctive entry from Nikkatsu’s early 1970s Sweden-shot productions, Agony of the Shadow Beast blends psychological drama with stylized, experimental filmmaking.

The film follows a young woman whose life takes an unexpected turn after a traumatic incident. She is later taken in by a mysterious and powerful figure, only to find herself drawn into a secluded and controlled environment. As she navigates this unfamiliar world, the story explores themes of manipulation, identity, and survival.

Visually, the film stands out for its bold atmosphere and unconventional approach, combining jazz-influenced music with surreal imagery and experimental storytelling techniques.

Produced during a period of strong international interest in Scandinavian cinema, Nikkatsu brought a Japanese production team to Sweden between 1971–1973, resulting in a series of unique cross-cultural films. This Blu-ray release from Klubb Super 8 marks the first time these restored titles have been made widely available outside of Japan.

Film Titles:

• Odjurets smärtsamma njutning (Swedish)
• Agony of the Shadow Beast
• Inju no modae (Japanese)

Cast:
Inga-Lill Green, Ann-Marie Machnow, Lennart Norbäck, Christer Holmgren, William Wängström, Thomas Schmutzer, Berit Hinderson, Lennart Lindgren

Director: Christer Holmgren
Producer: Kazuyoshi Fukushima
Production: Soei Puro

Blu-ray Specs:

• Runtime: 70 minutes
• Video: 1080p HD (1.33:1)
• Audio: PCM Mono 2.0
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English, Swedish
• Year: 1971
• Region: Free (A/B/C)

Special Features:

• Blonde Animals: Swedish Sin Through the Lens of Nikkatsu’s 1970s productions – Video essay by Johan Nordström
• Audio commentary with Jasper Sharp, Johan Nordström & Rickard Gramfors
• Original Japanese & English screenplay
• Archival short featuring Ann-Marie Machnow (1970)
• Trailer
• Image & poster galleries

Import Note:
This is an official Swedish Blu-ray release from Klubb Super 8, presented in its original format with English subtitles.