I Am an S+M Writer

One of those films that perfectly illustrates Hiroki's shift from pinku cinema to (arthouse) drama. The themes and focus on kinks are still very much present, the rhythm is reminiscent of the typical pinku films, but it should be clear that Hiroki isn't out to titillate. The film balances lighter and more serious drama with a fun and kinky topic, a niche he would continue to explore in the later stage of his career.

The story revolves around Oniroku Dan, a writer of erotic fiction, with a particularly strong interest in the kinkier material. To find more inspiration, he hires a female assistant who ties up women for him and whips them. Things get a little trickier when Dan's wife develops romantic feelings for his assistant. Dan isn't sure how he feels about this.

The start of the film is quite light, almost comedic. With Ren Osugi taking on the lead it makes for some great scenes. The man has a stern look, but he can be pretty weird and funny if need be. The drama in the second half felt a bit forced and even though the styling is pleasant, Hiroki improved quite a bit for his following films. A must for fans of his work, but it's still one of his weaker works.