Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects

Author: Old Mother Hubbard

“Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” (1989) This is a somewhat odd movie in Charles Bronson’s canon of films because of it’s blatant racism, especially towards people of the Asian persuasion. Bronson portrays Lieutenant Crowe, an LAPD vice-squad detective who is rather irritable and looking forward to retirement. A child trafficker/pimp known as “Duke” is fiercely despised by Crowe.

A wealthy Japanese businessman named Hiroshi Hada witnesses a girl getting groped by a stranger on a subway in Tokyo and the girl appears to have an orgasm which turns him on. Later when Hada moves to America he gropes a 15 year old girl on a bus, thinking she will like it, but instead she screams. Wouldn’t you know it – it’s Crowe’s daughter. Anywho, Hada’s daughter gets kidnapped and turned out by pimp Duke and, of course, Crowe is assigned to the case.

This film is brought to us by the Golan/Globus folks who were responsible for the “Death Wish” series and it follows a similar pattern. There is lots of action and some possibly unintentional humor that is actually hilarious. Many folks were offended by the blatant racism and sordid subject matter but I found this to be one of Bronson’s most memorable escapades on screen. Peggy Lipton from “The Mod Squad” plays Bronson’s wife in the film. If you haven’t seen it it is quite a trip. Not for the easily offended. 4 stars.