House of Seven Belles

Director - Andy Milligan (Blood, Dragula)

Starring - Dolores Barcia, Peter Barcia (Legacy of Blood), and Elaine Boies (Legacy of Blood)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Drama/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I prepared to toss in the final film in this set from Severin Films, I wondered if it would be a film that could be followed or another abysmal watch.  The movie was a bit different than the previous films in the set as it was shot in the late 70s before he ran out of money to finish it while the other unfinished films were shot in the 60s and fell on the cutting room floor as he moved on to other projects.  The film, House of Seven Belles, s a period piece horror drama that did not have an ending.  This intrigued me and made me think that it would be watchable until the last leg of the film.  I was mostly right.

     The film follows seven southern belles whose family was once prosperous but has since fell on hard times since the civil war.  However, they are all fighting for the little bit of inheritance that is left and along their journey is a various characters ranging from rapists, wounded soldiers, and a murderer who is stalking the property killing people one by one.

     I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it besides the fact that it was completely shot aside from the ending.  I had no idea it was a period piece about the deep south and filmed in New York but I found myself really enjoying it.  The acting in this one is very loud and stiff.  The cast is inexperienced and not really into their roles in a lot of the scenes.  We have a lot of screaming, flat dialogue, and no emotional range.  I really wanted to like these characters but it felt like a stage play with an anger management group.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting and found myself really drawn into it.  It's a period piece drama that has some slasher elements tossed in randomly.  It does not make a lot of sense and some of the scenes left me scratching my head but it held my attention which says something.  On the opposite side of the same coin, the lack of an ending is a bit disappointing.  Finally, the film does have a few deaths but they are not that memorable.  Honestly, I enjoyed them in the film itself but they don't really stand out and use minimal practical effects.  Overall, House of Seven Belles is not the film I was expecting from Andy Milligan.  It's an odd period piece set after the civil war with slasher tones and a lot of unlikable characters.  It's the biggest surprise in this set and one I would recommend watching.  It's still far from perfect and a movie I will never revisit but it's still wild for what it is.  

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me!

Director - Andy Milligan (Legacy of Blood, Fleshpot on 42nd St.)

Starring - Natalie Rogers (Tricks of the Trade, The Very Naked Canvas), Don Williams (The Ghastly Ones), and Peter Ratray (The Abyss, Walls of Glass)

Release Date - 1968

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "No one man could satisfy her"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I didn't know what to expect when I started diving into this Gutter Auteur set from Severin.  I was familiar with Andy Milligan's work prior to this but it was limited to a handful or so films that I had added to my collection over the years.  He was a very polarizing filmmaker that was not very consistent with his films but the few that I do like, I really like.  I started this marathon with The Degenerates because it was one I had wanted to see for some time but soon followed that up with the documentary about him and Compass Rose.  I was not a fan of Compass Rose but that didn't stop me from immediately throwing in Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! from 1968.  

     The film follows a promiscuous house wife that starts going behind her husbands back to sleep around.  He's abusive and doesn't show her the attention she craves but several men, along with her husband's best friend, give her what she needs.  However, when he starts to sever ties with her as to not hurt his best friend, she starts scheming up ways to get him back until her husband ultimately discovers that she is sleeping around and not taking care of their child.

     I went into Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! expecting it to be another unwatchable movie where the story was never finished by Milligan but what I found was a bit of an erotic drama that does have a lot of issues but still works as a coherent film.  It's not the best film I've seen but it was still watchable.  The acting in this one is leagues above Compass Rose but there is still a lot of room for growth.  We see some very well acted scenes sporadically throughout the film but other scenes show inexperience and awkwardness with the dialogue.  The story for this one is a little more straight forward but does have some rough editing at times.  A slutty housewife with a drunk husband going around lookin for strange is nothing we haven't seen before in sexploitation and it's not really done in an original way here.  It works to watch especially if you are going through this set like I am but it's not something I can recommend.  Finally, the film has a little blood but it's not a movie with a body count or great effects.  The movie is focused on the sleazy housewife and that's it.  Those of you wanting memorable deaths will be very disappointed.  Overall, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! is very middle of the road and forgettable but it's watchable which is more than Compass Rose.  

Compass Rose

Director - Andy Milligan (Surgikill, The Weirdo)

Starring - Anthony Moscini (Seeds of Sin, Gutter Trash), Anne Linden (Hot Erotic Nights, The Vixens), and Candy Hammond (The Promiscuous Sex, Seeds of Sin)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Many years ago I bought The Ghastly Ones and since then I've seen several of his horror titles.  I have seen his more erotic and drama centered films like Vapors and Seeds of Sin when I think it was Vinegar Syndrome released them.  I wasn't really a fan then but I'm really looking forward to checking out some of these other films after watching The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan.  The next movie in the set is the 1967 film Compass Rose.  This was one I had never heard of before and couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film, the best I can tell, follows a group of drag queen performers in an NYC underground theater where they encounter drug addicts, perverts, and other degenerates that inhabit the scene.

     Like all the films in this set, Compass Rose was never completed by Milligan so we have no idea what his final vision was for the film but as it sits currently it is damn near unwatchable.  I went into this one really excited to see some of the things I had learned about him from the documentary but the movie is pieced together the best as possible but that doesn't give us a lot to go on.   The acting in this one is a lot of fun but it is rough.  The cast really gets into their roles and brings a lot of energy in some of the scenes but the dialogue delivery is rough.  Their inexperience is evident but I still had fun with their energy in several of the scenes.  The story for this one is extremely lacking.  I'm sure Milligan had a story or idea in his head when he originally started the film but I have no idea what the end game was without it being finished.  It's extremely difficult to follow and has very little direction as is.  I seriously wanted to get into it but I was confused through most of it.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting deaths.  We do have some nudity and an incoherent story if that's more your speed.  Overall, Compass Rose was a very difficult film to finish.  While I liked the characters and the cast, it was a rough experience.  I wanted to like it but it's not a fun watch as it is.  

Beat Girl

Director - Edmond T. Greville (Guilty?, The Silk Noose)

Starring - David Farrar (The 300 Spartans, The Webster Boy), Noelle Adam (Sergeant X and the Foreign Legion, The Wonders of Aladdin), and Gillian Hills (A Clockwork Orange, The Killer Wore Gloves)

Release Date - 1960

Tagline - "My mother was a stripper... I want to be a stripper too"

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Christopher Lee is a name that any movie fan recognizes.  His career is legendary and he left his mark on every genre imaginable.  While I grew up on he Hammer horror films and later the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it was his late 90s and early 00s family friendly films that I've learned to appreciate the most.  His career spanned 70 years and showcased some of the best acting ever filmed.  I've seen a lot of his films over the years but I'm always open to watch more.  That's why I jumped at the chance to review Severin Film's Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Volume 3.  I had seen two of the films in the set but the other four were brand new to me.  I couldn't wait to check it out and as soon as I could I tossed in Beat Girl which was released originally under Wild for Kicks.  I want to thank Severin Films for sending this one over!

     The film follows a wealthy designer who returns to his home after being away for several months with his new wife in tow.  Waiting for him at home is his 16 year old daughter who is deep into the underground jazz scene.  The step-mother, who is a former stripper, tries hard to connect with her new step-daughter but the closer she gets to her the further away she pushes her into a career of stripping.

     Beat Girl is not the kind of film that I would willingly go out of my way to review.  This dance drama is not the kind of movie that I would be interested in.  However, seeing Christopher Lee's name appear on the poster made me instantly interested and while I was not a big fan of this one, I still enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is great and I might as well go ahead and dress my only problem with the acting.  That is that Lee himself is not in the film as long as I would have liked.  With that being said, David Farrar and Gillian Hills make the film.  Farrar is fantastic as the father that has distanced himself from his daughter and Hills is amazing in her role.  She absolutely kills and it makes this film as fun as it is.  The story for this one is kind of a bratty take on the dance drama of the era.  It's hard to like these wealthy, entitled characters but the film finds of way to keep it interesting and glued to the screen.  While this is not a film that I could see myself watching on my own, I still enjoyed the story and how well the pacing was.  Finally, don't expect a film with a body count or memorable deaths.  It's a character driven drama with a great cast.  Overall, Beat Girl is not the kind of movie many of you Horror Society readers would be interested in.  However, seeing Christopher Lee early on in his career is pretty fucking cool.  Check it out.  

     

Dimorfo

Director - Rodjara (El Pequeno Vagabundo, Sabado Sabadete)

Starring - Rodjara, J. Caracuel (Pepe Carbalho, El Fin de la Inocencia), and Alex Fontsa 

Release Date - 1980

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Honestly, I have no idea what I'm going to watch as I move from movie to movie in this Exorcismo set from Severin Films.  I knew many of them are going to take full advantage of the removal of the strict laws that were enforced during Franco's reign.  I was expecting a few horror titles due to the releases artwork and I knew that a couple sexploitation flicks would find their way onto the release but I was not expecting a film like Dimorfo, or Dimorphic, to be on there.  It makes sense that it was included but this story was one I was not expecting at all.  

     The film follows a Jewish recluse who flees his home after Nazi's occupy his small village.  He flees into the mountain and eventually comes across a small farm.  He seeks refuge there and they welcome him in, however, things take an unexpected turn.  The mother and son pair start to reveal their sexual tensions to him forcing him into some unexpected situations with them.  

     I went into Dimorfo completely blind but nothing would have prepared me for this crazy ass movie.  It reminded me a lot of the farmer's daughter sexploitation films that I've reviewed in the past with a few twists tossed in for shock value.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it but it is similar to other films from the mid-to late 70s.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not bad.  The main cast is fairly small but the characters have a lot of personality.  The cast does a great job at bringing them to life and work very well with one another.  Sadly, there is a few scenes where the dialogue feels forced and not genuine.  The story for this one is a bit wild but it's not really that original.  I've seen sexploitation, comedies, and even horror movies following a man who trespasses onto a farmer's land and is forced to wed, sleep with, and make pregnant the daughter of the farmer.  Dimorfo switches this up some with the stranger being a fleeing jew seeking refuge in the mountains and the farmer being a mother with a secretly gay son.  Honestly, it's a wild story that works.  It has great pacing and works for what it is.  Finally, the film is not one with memorable deaths and great gore.  It's a character piece with some skin and a story that is not expected.  Overall, Dimorfo deserves to be in this set.  It's sexploitation and naziploitation with a story that may not be original but has a unique spin to it.  I highly recommend it.  

The Priest

Director - Eloy de la Iglesia (The Cannibal Man, Confessions of a Congressman)

Starring - Simon Andreu (Die Another Day, Vampire Academy), Emilio Gutierrez (Estigma, Lost Bullet), and Jose Franco (Hail Hazana, Climax)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I guess I've turned a corner on this box set as it seems like the last few films I've tossed in have not been horror.  I knew not all of these films would be horror but I'm shocked by the amount of documentaries that are included.  I love a good documentary so I don't mind that but it looks like we've reached the portion of the set where focus from horror may have shifted to other genres now that nudity and so on could be filmed.  After watching the sex comedy Sins of a Nympho, the next film in the set is another comedy of sorts.  This time it's the 1978 dramedy The Priest from Eloy de la Iglesia.  Iglesia is no stranger to Horror Society after I reviewed several of his films years ago that Severin also released on blu.  I was curious about this one once I realized he directed it.

     The film follows a priest, obviously, who has reached a point in his life where he is questioning his decision to become a man of the cloth.  He is starting to sexual desires that slowly start to take over his life.  He doesn't know what to do with these feelings at first so he turns to others in the church.  They offer up suggestions on how to deal with it but they are not helpful at all.  With his sexual tension rising, he starts to lust over a married woman who has an abusive husband.  

     I went into The Priest actually a little excited.  I had no idea what kind of film this was but I was hoping it would be better than Sins of a Nympho.  I got my wish because it was better but not by much.  It's not the most entertaining film but it was alright for a first time watch especially after watching a film that was damn near unwatchable.  The acting in this one is fucking fantastic.  Hell, it's about the only reason I was enjoyed it as much as I did.  Simon Adreau carries the film in my opinion.  While the supporting cast is fantastic and do a wonderful job at bringing to life many colorful characters, it's Adreau and his intensity that makes the film what it is.  The story for this one is one that speaks volumes when you say it out loud but watching it on film is like beating a dead horse.  We follow a priest who wants to get laid.  It's ALL he can think about and lets us know about it over and over again.  We do have a little bit of intrigue when he starts to fall for the married woman but that doesn't happen until later in the film.  I really wish we had more to the story than a horny priest and a battered wife.  Finally, this is purely a drama with some funny moments so don't expect a body count and memorable gore.  The film is purely a character piece and nothing else.  Overall, The Priest has a stellar cast and a story that should have been more enjoyable than it was.  It's very repetitive and doesn't give the viewer anything worthwhile.  I wanted to love it but couldn't get into it.  

Battered Flesh

Director - Javier Aguirre (Count Dracula's Great Love, Hunchback of the Morgue)

Starring - Esperanza Roy (X, Medea 2), Barbara Rey (The Night of the Sorcerers, ...And Give Us Our Daily Sex), and Tota Alba (Inquisition, Demon Witch Child)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Drama

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      When I was looking over the films in the Exorcismo set from Severin, I was shocked to see that it didn't have a women in prison film in it considering how popular they were in the 70s.  I've reviewed dozens of these films over the years from boutique labels like Severin, Vinegar Syndrome, and Blue Underground.  Hell, even Full Moon and Troma have a few in their catalogue of films.  However, as I worked my way through the set and reached the 1978 film Battered Flesh I was excited to see that it was a women in prison flick.  The title made me think I was diving into a horror film but I was wrong.  It was a pleasant surprise and a solid film for what it was.

    The film follows a woman who finds herself behind bars for what appears to be fraud.  Here she is beaten, degraded, and humiliated by guards and other prisoners.  While she does find some friendship inside the walls, transfers and releases keep an everchanging dynamic in the prison yard.

     Battered Flesh is pretty straight forward for a women in prison flick.  The story is nothing we haven't seen before, the characters are pretty cliched especially by the late 70s, yet I still had fun with it.  It's nothing original but still fun.  The acting in this one is very one sided.  Roy does most of the heavy lifting in the film.  She's delivers a solid performance but the lack of character development and personality makes her blend into the background.  The supporting cast is pretty bland but no one tosses in a women in prison flick for good acting.  The story for this one is nothing we haven' seen before especially in a film with a premise like this.  A woman who is wrongfully convicted or convicted of a small crime is sent to a women's prison where she is sexually and physically abused, degraded, and singled out.  It's clearly a vehicle to get women nude and it succeeds.  With that being said, the drams works and is just enough to hold the viewer's attention.  Finally, we might have a little of the red stuff but don't expect a movie with some fun deaths.  We have some skin and that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Battered Flesh is a movie that is not going to really stick with the viewer after but was fun especially for a first time watch.  Check it out.  

Forbidden Game of Love

Director - Eloy de la Iglesia (The Priest, Confessions of a Congressman)

Starring - Javier Escriva (Brigada Central, Obscene Desire), John Moulder-Brown (The Devil in the Fog, Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder), and Inma de Santis (Sonatas, Estudio 1)

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm going to have my hands full with Spanish cinema the next few weeks thanks to some of my favorite boutique labels and I'm really excited for the opportunity to check these out!  Not only has my friends over at Severin Films released a fantastic box set of late 60s and early 70s cinema from Spain but my friends over at Mondo Macabro has released a trio of Spanish horror and thrillers from area and era.  I just watched and reviewed Mondo Macabro's release of I Hate My Body and decided to follow it up with their second release of the the three which is the 1975 dramatic thriller Forbidden Game of Love.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young couple who are hitchhiking after classes when their wealthy professor picks them up.  He takes them back to his home where he puts them up for the night.  The following day they try to leave and he refuses to let them go.  He then offers them a proposal.  He will provide them with everything they need or want if they promise never to leave.  They refuse at first but he has his servant force them to stay.  Overtime, the two start to succumb to his torture and brainwashing.

     I'm not well versed on the history of Spain but from what I can gather was that Spain was under fascist rule until the mid-70s.  This time, known as Francoist Spain, saw heavy censorship with a lot of the more bold and boundary pushing films getting censored.  That is one of the many reasons I'm excited to see these films from the time.  Forbidden Game of Love is not the wildest or craziest film I've seen but I can only imagine how a conservative government would lose their mind over it.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The cast works very well together and bring to life some fantastic characters with their performances.  Honestly, I really enjoyed the cast and how each character interacted with one another.  It made the film for me.  The story for this one is not as wild as I was expecting but that be due to years of sexploitation has desensitized me.  We follow a wealthy man and his rather timid associate/servant as they "torture" and brainwash a young couple.  It's nothing that brutal or extreme by any standards but it's a solid watch especially with the acting we have.  Finally, the film has some skin but don't expect it to be a bloody affair like you would expect from most of the films I review.  The film is very story rich and character driven.  Overall, Forbidden Game of Love is the kind of film that I would never have the chance to enjoy if it wasn't for companies like Mondo Macabro.  It's a wild film that may seem tame by today's standards but did get some knickers in a twist at the time, so to speak.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

A Man for Emmanuelle

Director - Cesare Canevari (Killing of the Flesh, The Nude Princess)

Starring - Erika Blanc (Kill Baby... Kill!, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse), Adolfo Celi (The Phantom of Liberty, Madly in Love), and Paolo Ferrari (Nero Wolfe, Married to a Cop)

Release Date - Drama/Erotic

Tagline - "The queer... the erotic... the hippie... all turned her on!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I went into the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection, I thought it was four films featuring Sylvia Kristel as the title character.  However, that was not the case at all.  The first three films in the set did feature Kristel in her iconic role but the fourth film really caught me off guard.  The final Emmanuelle film was actually the 1969 Italian drama A Man for Emmanuelle starring Erika Blanc as Emmanuelle.  I became very interested in the film especially when I realized that it was not one of the films starring Kristel.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows Emmanuelle (Blanc) who has her eye on someone.  Instead of approaching them like a rational human being, she starts sleeping with everyone she crosses paths with regardless of gender.  

     I went into this one not knowing what to expect.  Was this a film that would later inspire the Emmanuelle series that I know or would it just be a film that shares a common name?  I don't know the back story behind this one but I did like it as a film but it wasn't near as sleazy and enjoyable as the Sylvia Kristel films.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part and pretty consistent which is something you can't really say about the previous three films I reviewed.  Blanc doesn't really carry the scene like Kristel can but she is a hell of a lot better actress.  The supporting cast does a solid job as well but it's Blanc that's the focus of the film.  The story for this one is nowhere near as sleazy as the first film but does have some sexy moments.  With that being said, it does lack in the story department with what feels like an anti-sex message.  We have a woman bouncing from sexual partner to sexual partner as she explores her sexual freedom.  The further she goes into these encounters, the more her life is turned upside down.  The film seems to have a completely different message than the subsequent Emmanuelle films.  Finally, the film doesn't have the amount of skin as I was expecting but there is some.  Those of you wanting a sleazy watch may be disappointed just like those of you wanting some blood and gore.  Overall, A Man for Emmanuelle is nothing like I expected but it was still an enjoyable film.  While it doesn't live up to the Emmanuelle name, I can only assume that it inspired the now legendary franchise.  Check it out especially if you dig the other films.  

Emmanuelle II

Director - Francis Giacobetti

Starring - Sylvia Kristel (Private School, Private Lessons), Umberto Orsini (The Damned, Solomon), and Frederic Lagache 

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Romance/Drama

Tagline - "The erotic masterpiece"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm only assuming here but over the course of a decade or longer I think I've reviewed close to 100 sexploitation films thanks to companies like Mondo Macabro, Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, Severin, Synapse/Impulse Pictures, and so on.  These boutique labels really care about preserving cinema.  While most have an eye for horror and exploitation, they do frequently release films that are on the sleazy side of cinema.  A few years back I was lucky enough to review an Emmanuelle double feature from my friends at Umbrella Entertainment.  I can no longer find those reviews for some reason but I do remember really enjoying those films thanks to the salacious performance from Sylvia Kristel.  A couple weeks ago I was sent the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection by Severin to check out.  This was a great reason to revisit these historic films in 4K.  I want to thank Severin for sending it over!  

     The film once again follows Emmanuelle (Kristel) who travels to Hong Kong to find her husband.  On the way she has sex with a woman who professes that she was once raped by several women and enjoyed it.  She then meets a young man and his mistress.  She quickly becomes close friends with them both and starts sleeping with her before she moves on to exploring Hong Kong where she will continue to explore her sexuality.

     A lot of the sequels I review never live up to the original film.  However, Emmanuelle 2 is one of the few instances where the sequel is just as good.  This is wild when you think about how this is the directors only film and it's an erotic drama from the mid-70s.  Most of these films rarely gain traction yet the original film spawned almost a dozen sequels.  I remember liking Emmanuelle 2 when I first watched it several years back but I really appreciate it as a film after revisiting them both.  Between the two films, this one is not as enjoyable but as a film it is leagues above the original.  The acting in this one is very well rounded.  Sylvia Kristel once again shines as the sexy star of the film.  Her character is what makes these movies so enjoyable and her performance here once again shines.  The supporting cast delivers performances that are just as good making the acting in this one more consistent than the previous film.  The story for this one does expand on the previous film some but doesn't really bring anything new to the table.  What made the first film so much fun was the way in which Emmanuelle was reluctant at first to the sexual exploits she was in.  In this follow up we have her more than willing to dive head first into these encounters while giving viewers a similar story as the first film where we follow her in a different country as she experiences new sexual situations for the first time.  A little drama in this one would have went a very long way.  Finally, there is a lot of skin in this one with some gorgeous women baring it all for us to take in.  There is no blood or gore for us horror fans but fans of exploitation will really dig it.  Overall, Emmanuelle II has better acting and cinematography but the story doesn't really give us something new.  It's still a fun watch but don't expect something that will stick with you like the original.  

Emmanuelle

Director - Just Jaekin (The Story of O, Girls)

Starring - Sylvia Kristel (Dracula's Widow, Red Heat), Alain Cuny (Don't Touch the White Woman!, Cross of the Living), and Marika Green (Pickpocket, Rider in the Rain)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama/Romance

Tagline - "X was never like this"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing exploitation for sometime now.  I started my writing career reviewing forgotten exploitation and action flicks.  Over time I was introduced to sexploitation and found myself truly enjoying them for the most part.  More genre fans would be open to them if they would get out of the mindset that these films are just porn.  These movies are story rich and highly entertaining even if you fast forward through the softcore dry humping.  Sometime ago I was sent the quintessential sexploitation film from my friends over at Umbrella Entertainment.  I reviewed the film at the time but it had been years since my last viewing so I was excited when Severin announced the release of their Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection.  I had only seen the first two films and really wanted to revisit them while seeing the other two films in the set.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send this set over.  I want to thank Severin for letting me check it out.  

     The film follows Emmanuelle who is married to a diplomat currently in Bangkok.  She visits him and when they finally see each other after several months apart, he is sad to learn that she has not explored their open relationship.  This soon changes after she meets several beautiful women and men who open her up to the world of sexual desire. 

     Sexploitation is a sub-genre that is often hated on by movie fans that tend to only watch popcorn flicks.  They hear nudity and instantly form an opinion about a film without seeing it.  These people are truly missing out.  As I said earlier, these films are a lot of fun and if nudity makes you feel uncomfortable, you can just fast forward through these scenes.  Emmanuelle is a fantastic movie that is a part of cinema history and one of the more popular sexploitation flicks.  Personally, I enjoy it but it's not one of my favorites but I can see why it became as popular and as important as it has.  The acting in this one is great.  Sylvia Kristel is a gorgeous actress with a lot of talent in front of the camera which is why I think the Emmanuelle movies are so much fun.  She's a great actress on top of making the sex scenes extremely hot.  Normally, I would fast forward through the sex scenes in sexploitation flicks but I can't do it here.  I have to watch.  The supporting cast is a bit uneven but in all fairness, no one watches these films for the acting.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and clearly written to be an erotic film.  What stops this one from falling into obscurity as another skin flick lost to time is the character development and the performance from Kristel.  It works and is just as enjoyable the second and third time around.  Finally, this one doesn't have any of the red stuff many of you genre fans may want.  Instead, it's got plenty of skin and a lot of sexy scenes even for a film that is pushing 50.  Overall, Emmanuelle is not a film you toss in because it has a thought provoking story with passionate performances.  It's a skin flick with a gorgeous leading lady and a lot of skin.  It's fun and should be seen especially if you did exploitation.  This release from Severin is a must see! 

Dakota

Director - Wim Verstappen (Black Rider, Alicia)

Starring - Monique van de Ven (Amsterdamned, Daylight), Kees Brusse (Mysteries, Blue Movie), and Willeke van Ammelrooy (The Lake House, Lost Transport)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Adventure/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of the movies I get in for review are horror and I have nothing negative to say about that.  Even if I don't like the movies sent my way for review, I still love watching them.  It's an experience sitting down to watch someone's hard work, seeing actors with little to no experience hope in front of the camera with nothing but love for the genre in their hearts.  With that being said, I do get in the random non-horror title for review from some of the boutique labels that I've became acquainted with over the years.  Most of them send over exploitation flicks or the random low budget direct to video action flicks that have been lost to time.  However, companies like Cult Epics have put a lot of time and focus on bringing international titles to the states in recent years which has broadened my viewing up greatly.  Sometime back they sent me the 1974 adventure drama Dakota from filmmaker Wim Verstappen.  I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over!

     The film follows a passionate pilot who wants take his DS3, or Dakota, plan across the Atlantic where he encounters several unexpected problems.  

     I knew Dakota wasn't going to be a movie that my typical readers would be interested in but I always feel obligated to review a movie that is sent to me regardless if it was horror or not.  With that being said, I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about the film prior to watching it.  It looked interesting to say the least and I love watching movies I had never seen before regardless of the genre.  Sadly, the movie just wasn't for me.  It's not a bad movie but I'm clearly not the target audience for this adventure drama.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  The scenes with Brusse alone are very well done.  The setting for the film is very small with Brusse alone most of the time but he is still able to pull off some seriously fantastic acting with one sided dialogue and his mannerisms.  It's when Brusse is with other cast members that we see some stiff dialogue that is a bit awkward coming from the veteran actor.  The supporting cast is solid but Brusse is the main focus of this one.  The story for this one is straight to the point and I'm sure it's overflowing with details that only true aviators will understand.  I am not someone with an interest in planes or flying.  As for the film itself, I enjoyed it for a short time but did find myself bored through most of the film.  The beautiful shots from the pilots perspective and of the plane flying is beautiful but doesn't really hold the viewer's attention like it would someone that has an interest in the topic.  Finally, the film is not one with blood and guts so those of you looking for that type of film will be very disappointed.  The film is solely focused on the flight and how the pilot handles the issues he faces in his flight.  Overall, Dakota is going to be a film that several can appreciate for how beautiful the film is but even fewer can appreciate for the story telling.  I really wanted to like this one but at the end of the day it just wasn't for me.  

Sparrows Can't Sing

Director - Joan Littlewood (Oh! What a Lovely War, Peierrots)

Starring - James Booth (Pray for Death, Bad Guys), Barbara Windsor (The Great Bang, Double Vision), and Roy Kinnear (Scrooge, Watership Down)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Tagline - "Sailor, sailor home from the sea.  Whose little stranger can this one be?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      A few weeks back I was sent several new releases from my friends over at Severin to review.  The package included the amazing set Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection along with several films from director Peter Medak.  I really enjoyed MOST of the film the films that I was sent directed by Medak with the exception of the film Negatives.  I was not a fan of the film but it was the first film in a double feature with the 1963 comedy Sparrow's Can't Sing.  I had assumed that the film was directed by Medak as well but that was not the case.  Regardless, I couldn't wait to check it out in hopes it was better than the other film in the set.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young man who is returning home after 2 years at sea.  He learns that his neighborhood, his home included, has been demolished.  He can't find his wife and starts looking for her around town while meeting many familiar faces that he knew before he was gone.  When he is able to find her, she is shacked up with another man and taking care of their child.  

     I went into Sparrow's Can't Sing completely blind and it wasn't until the opening credits that I realized it wasn't directed by Medak.  That didn't really turn me off to the film, and while it was better than Negatives, it still wasn't as great as I would have liked.  The acting in this one is actually pretty well done.  I loved the cast and the characters they brought to life.  While the characters are pretty cliched and generic, the cast does a great job which made the film a little more enjoyable.  The story for this one is a bit messy but I did like several elements of it.  The humor, if the film had any, did not find it's mark.  It may have been funny if you had that old style sense of humor but from today's standpoint, it was not funny.  I didn't realize it was meant to be a comedy until I was putting the review together and saw it listed as such on the imdb page.  Also, I didn't like the way that the film focused more on the protagonist's interactions with supporting characters instead of his search for his missing wife.  The movie plays out the same way that I play sandbox games.  Finally, the film has no blood or gore so those looking for carnage will be very disappointed.  Overall, Sparrows Can't Sing is a movie that had promise but fails to pull anything together.  I liked the acting and the baseline for the story but the execution fell flat.  I really wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  Skip it.  

Negatives

Director - Peter Medak (The Changeling, Species II)

Starring - Peter McEnery (Witchcraft, Hammer House of Horror), Diane Cilento (The Wicker Man, Dead Planet), and Glenda Jackson (Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Devil is a Woman)

Release Date - 1968

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "A bizarre modern drama of a man and two women locked in a sensual game of sex"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Severin recently released a few of Peter Medak's more not so known films.  The first was the 2018 documentary The Ghost of Peter Sellers which was about the making of his ill-fated pirate film with comedy superstar Peter Sellers.  It was then that I realized just how extraordinary Medak's career had been.  He helmed the classic horror film The Changeling along with episodes of Masters of Horror, Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, Breaking Bad, and many more.  Talk about a fucking legend.  When Severin sent over The Ghost of Peter Sellers, they also included a few more releases with one being a double feature featuring the 1968 Medak film Negatives.  This was another new one to me and I couldn't wait to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank the fine folks over at Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a couple who stay to themselves and their sexual exploration is mostly role playing with each other.  However, their worlds come crashing down when a new woman moves in near them and becomes infatuated with the couple.  The man wants to begin role playing as a different person than his normal persona and this causes a rift between the long time couple.

     I went into Negatives really excited after watching The Ghost of Peter Sellers and The Odd Job.  I really enjoyed both of those films but Negatives just wasn't for me.  Hell, I don't know who this movie would be for but it sure as shit wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is probably the best part of the movie.  The cast does a wonderful job and the characters are rather enjoyable.  Honestly, I wish these characters had a better story to shine in than what they were given.  The story for this one is a bit of a drag but had some interesting ideas.  A young couple who never got along unless they were role playing finding themselves falling apart with the introduction of a new woman has every right to be a fantastic sexploitation film.  However, making this story fit into a cheap drama with no humor or sex appeal is a huge miss.  Finally, those wanting blood or skin will be greatly disappointed.  The film is a character driven story that would have worked if it embraced the sex and not the weird drama tone it went for.  Overall, Negatives is a movie that I was really looking forward to but just couldn't get into.  While I loved the characters, I disliked everything else with this one.  Skip it for The Odd Job!

Lady Desire

Director - Errikos Andreou (Morning Star, The Hook)

Starring - Kosta Prekas (High Treason, The City Jungle), Christine Allen, and Stefanos Stratigos (The Man with the Carnation, Proud Eagles)

Release Date - 1969

Genre - Crime/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My favorite thing about boutique labels are the ones that doesn't just cater to forgotten horror and no budget action flicks from the direct to video era.  While I love regional horror and no budget action, I also like films from other parts of the world that defy genres.  I love, and I mean love, exploitation flicks that that blend different sub-genres together into something unique and a bit different.  A few weeks back Mondo Macabro sent over a Greek double feature with the films Sexomania and Lady Desire.  I knew nothing about these films prior to reviewing them and couldn't wait to check them out.  After spinning Sexomania, it was time to dig into the 1968 film Lady Desire which was also released under the title I Blame My Body.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a woman who has tried to hide from society finds her family heirlooms have been stolen.  A local constable investigating the robbery becomes somewhat obsessed with the woman that he knows nothing about.  His investigation uncovers her sordid history and all the romantic partners she has had over the years.

     Lady Desire is not what I was expecting it to be but does live up to the title.  I went into this one expecting it to be a full late 60s nudie flick in tune to the counter culture hippie films of the time.  However, what I was given was something like that with a story a little more complex.  Honestly, I liked it but I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon.  The acting in this one is good all the way through.  The movie itself is very heavy on dialogue in some scenes while others are completely lacking yet the cast is able to carry the story through it all.  They body language and mannerisms to convey emotions in some of the scenes while others are great examples of well rounded acting.  I was very surprised by this cast.  The story for this one is not necessarily a nudie flick or a sexploitation film like I was expecting.  The movie is more a crime mystery with some sex scenes inserted at times when the story needed them.  We follow the constable or whatever he's called as he pries into the young woman's backstory.  We do have those scenes but I wouldn't call this a nudie flick as these scenes are not the point of the film.  They only add to the film while the plot itself is enough to carry the viewer's attention.  Finally, this is just like the other film in the set. It doesn't feature any blood or a body count.  It's focus is on the characters and story which is does a great job on.  Overall, Lady Desire is not going to be for everyone.  Hell, even the sexploitation fans may not dig this one but I really enjoyed it for what it was.  I highly recommend it.  

Sexomania

Director - Marios Retsilas (Guilty Relationships, I Ora Tou Lykou)

Starring - Maria Ioannidou (The Brightest Star, King of Liars), Vasilis Mitsakis (The Asphalt Fever, The Daughter of the Sun), Stavros Farmakis (Guilty Relationships, The Terrorists) 

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started writing reviews, over 15 years ago now, I never expected that I would be reviewing films from different regions of the world.  I've been fortunate enough to reviews movies from the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Russia, Italy, Spain, and so on.  I've also been fortunate enough to review several titles from Greece thanks to my friends over at Mondo Macabro.  A few months back I was sent the erotic dramatic thriller Sexomania for review.  I had never heard of this 1974 flick before and was really looking forward to checking it out.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a rich and successful man who has overlooked his wife's carnal needs resulting in her secret infidelity.  He takes her to a doctor to see why she is suffering mentally and everything about her secret life starts to unravel.  

     Sexomania was nothing like I expected but I did enjoy it.  It's not the sexiest film I had seen but it had a solid story, some beautiful cinematography, and the story wasn't that bad.  Sure, it's not a movie that I would normally review for the site but there will be some out there that dig sexploitation and international dramas.  The acting in this one is inconsistent but it's not bad.  In fact, I actually liked it for the most part.  There was a few scenes where the cast was a bit stiff an lacked any emotional range but the overall film was very well acted.  The story for this one is a bit all over the place but I still enjoyed it for what it was.  I liked the idea of the neglectful husband trying to save his wife's mental state with a professional only for her to spill her guts about being unfaithful.  The movie could have used a decent trim and some better editing to make the story a bit more cohesive but sometimes things are lost when you are forced to read the movie.  Finally, don't expect a bloody flick.  We get some skin and a lot of story rich scenes but that is about the extent of it.  Fans wanting some blood and gore should have been more diligent with what they were choosing.  Overall, Sexomania may not be one of those sexploitation films that sticks with you for days after watching but it is a solid first time watch.  Collectors and fans of sexploitation should really check out this release from Mondo Macabro.  

The Punishment

Director - Pierre-Alain Jolivet (Black Mirror, Le Grand Ceremonial)

Starring - Karin Schubert (The Panther Squad, Black Venus), Georges Geret (Little Roma, Stranger in the House), and Amidou (Victory, Ronin)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I just spent the entire month binging as many horror movies as I could while sneaking in several of the action flicks from the Bloody Legend boxset sent over from Severin/Intervision.  I love horror and have built a career out of reviewing horror titles for over 15 years but sometimes I do need a break.  That's why I love these boutique labels that not only release horror but other cult and often overlooked films.  A few weeks back I received a couple of the new releases from Mondo Macabro which featured a Bollywood horror classic and a few sexploitation films.  After my month long horror binge I decided to check out the French erotic thriller The Punishment from director Peirre-Alain Jolivet.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review.  

     The film follows a young woman who finds herself bound in a prostitution ring.  She is then taken to a homemade dungeon in the basement of a mansion to be disciplined for not doing what was told to her by one of her Johns.  She is then subjected to various punishments and sex acts in order to discipline her for not performing.  

     I kind of knew what I was getting myself into by the name and artwork that was present on the Mondo Macabro release.  The film's original title. La Punition, and artwork paints a very straight forward picture which lets you know that the film does focus on the S&M side of sexploitation and have inspired the more popular The Story of O.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  The characters and their writing is not consistent but it doesn't take away from the film.  Some of the characters are rather flat and cliched while others are more developed.  This gives the cast a little more to work with and it shows.  I liked the acting for the most part but some of the more "graphic" scenes are a bit overacted.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward but it is still a fun journey.  Honestly, this is one of those films where you know where it is headed but the ride there is still enjoyable.  Honestly, it's a nudie flick for those into spankings with some blood.  Finally, the film has some blood and minimal effects.  This isn't something that really stands out or is memorable.  In fact, it does move the story along but it's not something that would need to be in the film.  Overall, The Punishment is a surprisingly entertaining early 70s French sexploitation flick.  It does try to be a roughie for the most part but fans of these types of films would have seen worse especially from this time.  I highly recommend checking out this one on blu from Mondo Macabro.