So we open with a naked chick suspended in a rope basket being lowered into a vat of boiling water. Once in, a lid is placed on top. She is executed for murdering her husband. Then we have shots of a samaurai being hanged for treason and the body used for sword practice. Finally a sequence of a girl burned at the stake for arson - rather appropriate, no?

On to the meat of the tale. A young samaurai is bathing in a stream and is bitten by a viper. A young peasant girl sees this and comes to his rescue, taking him to her abode to recuperate.

The local magistrate is dedicated to wiping out Christians. He has a group under interrogation. One woman is bound crab style on the floor and has her chest branded. Our samaurai is assigned to this magistrate but has fallen in love with the young girl who saved him and she is Christian. A henchman searches the girl's house and finds a crucifix.

Hideous methods are used for torturing these folks. A woman is placed in a clear tank half filled with water and snakes are thrown in for everyone's amusement. Another woman is bound to a rotating spit and roasted. The peasant girl and her family are arrested and she is bound and presented to the magistrate as the samaurai sits by his side. She is bound in the boudoir and the samaurai is forced to watch as the magistrate has his way with her. The magistrate likes her and decides to make her his mistress.

At a little get together the girl is told she must divulge the identities of other Christians. When she refuses her little sister is brought in and the samaurai is ordered to cane her. He cannot so the magistrate does it himself then has her blinded by sticking a hot poker in her eyes. Big sister agrees to talk and the small girl is thrown to the streets to become a beggar.

Soldiers begin to conduct raids at Christian functions. A woman is grabbed, taken into the woods and raped by two soldiers. The samaurai intervenes and kills them. The girl is forced to watch as her mother and father are tied to crosses, speared then burned.

Because of his love for the girl the samaurai is banned from the city. One year later he returns and ambushes the magistrate in an attempt to rescue her. He temporarily succeeds and finally gets to tap her himself. His victory is short lived as the magistrates henchmen corner him and the girl. He is killed in the encounter and she is sentenced to death for adultery.

She is bound and blindfolded, led on horseback to her execution. She passes her sister who is begging on the streets but they can't see each other - sob, whimper, really touching the cockles of my heart. She is tied spread eagled to a large plank, arms to O-rings, legs to waiting oxen. The order is given and her legs are slowly torn off tearing her crotch apart. The magistrate is promoted to Minister of Religion. The End

Movie Pluses - this is a high dollar production and it shows. The torture scenes while generally short are very well done and convincing. The chick is very attractive and natural. And I do love a happy ending.

Movie Minuses - yeah, I really wish the scenes had been extended a bit - and being mainstream there is some drag time.