Saturday, November 29, 2008

Mondo Cane (1962)



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Review:

A thoroughly informative and equally entertaining showcase of various cultural oddities. From scenic beauty to savage customs where the authenticity of certain footage is questionable, yet fascinating nonetheless.

From voracious crowds of randy female natives participating in a man hunt. To a tribe in New Guinea that places it's most desirable females in cages only to gorge them on tapioca root, so that they can attain a form covetable to the tribe leader who weights a meer 92 lbs.

There is shock footage aplenty as the viewer witnesses the brutal beheading of a bull, and in the final frame a bull gets it's revenge as it reeks havoc through the streets and takes out curious spectators.

I will say that with the popularity of certain cooking shows (such as Top Chef), I was starting to wonder what Foie Gras actually was. And after seeing how it is made (by force feeding a duck or goose so that it's engorged liver can be extracted for Gourmet aficionados.) I have absolutely no desire ever to try it. (To each their own, I suppose :P)

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In Conclusion:

This is the Shockumentary that started it all, and is an absolute viewing necessity for those that are looking for landmark points in exploitation films.

Highly recommended!

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Screen Captures: (All screen caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission.)



Monday, November 24, 2008

Flower & Snake (1974)





















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Review:

Businessman Makoto, forever traumatized by events that occurred when he was a child, is rendered impotent and is unable to have casual sex with a female. His doting mother who he happens to reside with, only aids in her son's impairment by filming pornographic bondage films in their basement.

Senzo, the owner of the company Makoto works for, happens to request the services of his young employee, when he finds explicit photos of women in various stages of bondage at his desk. Discontent with his own marriage and his inability to have relations with his beautiful, prideful wife Shizuko. Senzo asks Makoto to train his wife in the art of submission, so she would bend to his every command, rather then force him to take his sexual frustrations out on the maid.

Senzo puts sleeping pills in Shizuko's drink, rendering her incapable of fighting off Makoto's advances.

What is in store for the unfortunate Shizuko is a plethora of fetish staples, including Shibari, enemas, and other various perversities.

Will she become the wife that Senzo desires, or is her will too strong to break?

You will be amazed at the various depraved relationships that unfold before your eyes.

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In Conclusion:

Oh, my what a pervy film! For those unfamiliar with another sub-genre of Pink film, known as the "Roman Porno", this is an example of such film. A low-budget Japanese film that tends to focus more on sex.

This film also helped film distribution company "Nikkatsu" from going completely bankrupt.

For those that love their smut as much as I do, this would make a worthy purchase.

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Screen Captures: (All screen caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission.)






Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Love Me Deadly (1973)



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Review:

She lingers in the back row of the funeral home, waiting for her chance to caress the embalmed, cold flesh of the dead cradled in their coffins. She knows nothing about the deceased or their grieving families, all she knows is that her lust for the dead is too great to be denied.

Her corpse fetish may derive its potency from her deceased father, with whom she shared a rather odd relationship with. As a kid her father treated her more like a lover then a child. Their bond was so strong that once he passed away, Lindsey could not help but become fixated with his corpse. Her inability to have a normal relationship with various potential suitors, only exacerbates the situation, when she finds herself unable to become intimate with them.

One day after having a random encounter at a funeral parlor she finds herself interested in a living man (Alex), who's uncanny resemblance to her late father leads her to lust secretly after him. His mutual interest in her leads the two to form a seemingly normal relationship. Yet, Lindsey still cannot give up her compulsion to visit the funeral home, where the owner of the establishment (Fred) begins to notice an increase in her attendance.

A fellow necrophile himself, he offers to invite Lindsey to join a special group of individuals that happen to share in her affinity for the dead. Little does she know that the group happens to be a gaggle of devil worshiping deviants who kill their playmates before partaking in sexual acts with their corpses.

Will Lindsey ever allow herself to have a normal relationship with Alex, or will she be "Forever doomed to love only the dead?"

Just watch and see.

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In Conclusion:

If Lifetime Television for Women where around in the 70s and happened to produce a sleazy film about Necrophilia, Love Me Deadly would be that film. There are many moments filled with unnecessary melodrama, yet at the same time the movie has such great atmosphere.

Despite the sappy romance, there is still a lot of distasteful subject matter taking place.
I really enjoyed the film, and after multiple viewings I find myself liking it even more. Don't let the Lifetime comment dishearten you, you'll still be in for a unique viewing experience.

It's also interesting to note that this film pre-dates other notorious corpse love films, such as (Nekromantik 1 & 2, Lucker The Necrophageous, and Kissed)
Not bad for 1973.

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Screen Captures: (All screen caps are taken by me, please do not use them without my permission.)