Don't Deliver Us From Evil (1971)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review:

Beneath a facade of youthful innocence and inexperience, two mischievous girls (Anne & Lore) attend St. Mary's Catholic School for girls. When not laughing during church sermons or confessing to sins fabricated for their own amusement. The pair strategically plan for an upcoming Satanic ritual, where they will denounce any affiliations with Christ and devote their lives to evil.

To prepare for the ceremony the girls secretly hoard communion wafers, eventually resorting to acts of theft when they take a priest's ceremonial garb and communion wine for their upcoming festivities. The two also enlist the services of Anne's mentally disabled gardener (Leon), whom the two thoroughly enjoy subjecting to various torments and abuse.

With summer break looming, Anne's parents decide to go on a trip for two months and with their servant (Gustave) as Anne's only form of supervision. The arrangement allows the girls many opportunities to get themselves into trouble.

It is not long before the duo decides to flirt with a local farmer. Anne manages to persuade Lore to entice the farmer, by entertaining him with a playful strip tease (before she departs to release the man's cows from the confines of the gated farm.) Left in the company of such a pervert, Lore is ravished by the sexually frustrated farmer who in his relentless pursuit of satisfaction tries to rape her. Thankfully, his attempts to deflower the girl are thwarted when Lore kicks him in the groin, enabling her to escape.

The girls continue to entice the opposite sex and commit devious acts, yet they are unprepared for the consequences of their actions when their games begin to take on a murderous tone.

"We shall dedicate our lives to Satan, our lord and master"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Conclusion:

Banned by the Catholic Church (seeing the movie you will know why.) & Loosely based on the Parker-Hulme Murder, depicted in Peter Jackson's--Heavenly Creatures, but with a more sacrilegious bend.

The girls interactions with various male characters make for quite an uncomfortable watch. Rape stares abound in this movie, even if the girl's intentionally draw negative attention to themselves.

Over all, I was quite entranced by the film. I liked the pairings (which are prevalent in many films) of light and dark. Anne being the dark haired deviant who provokes. And Lore being the sympathetic blonde easily convinced and usually the one conveniently left in compromising positions with the opposite sex.

I found them both worthy of evoking sympathy, and yet at the same time deserving of a good ass beating.

Both the ending and the musical score creep under your skin. Even now as I write this review, the theme is on continuous loop in my mind.

The flick comes highly recommended, and thankfully is only available in French or French with English subtitles. As it was meant to be seen.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screen Captures: (Please note: all screen caps are taken by me. If you intend to use them, please give me credit.)

Salon Kitty (1976)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review:

Women who proclaim their love of National Socialism, and enforce strong support for the Führer, Hitler are recruited by SS Officer Wallenburg and his subordinates to entertain SS troops with decadent displays of sexual acrobatics and constant stimulation to help increase resolve among those discouraged by the tedious battle.

To further convince Wallenburg and his counterparts of their desire to do anything imaginable for the sake of the National Socialist movement. The women are asked to perform various tasks to prove their loyalty before they progress.

First they are filmed participating in various forms of coitus with SS Troops before being placed into cells where they are forced to copulate with men considered very undesirable to the master race. (The likes of gypsies, amputees, concentration camp victims, etc.) Some girls are more then willing to participate in such deviant acts, while others make unsuccessful attempts to flee from their cell mates.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wallenburg's plan includes the involvement of the successful Madam (Kitty), who is forced to make drastic changes to her establishment and the girls she employs. At Wallenburg's request, her current girls are replaced by his hand picked Aryan female subordinates, whom Kitty is assigned the task of training to become professional call girls.

Before the re-opening of the Salon, Wallenburg has every room in the brothel bugged, so that spies can secretly record the goings on in each room. The newly appointed girls are also required to write status reports on each man they entertain. The men who visit Madam Kitty's are appointed to various ranks and positions in the Third Reich, making any dirt uncovered by the secret operation that much more powerful. Some men unknowingly divulge potentially life changing information, including their true feelings about the war and National Socialism.

Caught in the cross hairs of such a devious plot for power, fellow call girl Margherita (whom Wallenburg has an infatuation for) happens to fall for one of her male suitors, who's plan for treason result in his untimely demise. (Even with Margherita going to great lengths to conceal his secret by falsifying her report for Wallenburg.)

After her lover is killed when news of his attempts to switch sides in the war is leaked to Wallenburg. Margherita seeks revenge against Wallenburg with intentions of beating him at his own game and forging an alliance with Madam Kitty, who also seeks retribution after numerous tragedies befall some of her girls and clients.

Will the embittered pair manage to unravel Wallenburg's corrupt plans for power without being discovered? Just watch and see....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Conclusion:

Underneath a guise of decadence lies a very well made film. Some of its content will be off putting to those who are easily offended.

I thoroughly enjoyed both the visuals and the musical numbers, which I found to be quite catchy.

Highly Recommended!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screen Captures: (Please note, all screen caps are taken by me. Please, give me credit if you intend to use them.)

Exorcism (1979)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review:

Defrocked priest and recent asylum escapee (Vogul) makes a living by writing tawdry tales of depravity for a local sex publication, Dagger & Garter weekly. When turning in a manuscript for his latest story, he becomes infatuated with magazine secretary, Anne. Whom he overhears discussing plans for a black mass with the magazine's editor (Franval).

What Vogul does not know is that the magazine throws elaborate parties for it's rich & pervy clientele, who's taste for the unusual encourages Anne and her lesbian lover to enact staged satanic rituals for their receptive audience, who whipped into a sexual frenzy help themselves to various hedonistic activities. (aka orgy)

Convinced that true demonic behaviour is taking place, Vogul decides that the imposing influence of the lord is necessary to ward off the devil. So he begins to strategically target certain individuals (usually female) involved with the black masses in an attempt to purify them with his trusty blade.

A mounting body count, displaying the same methods of butchery lead a certain detective to theorize about the murderous sadist involved. He concludes that the methods of torture resembled strategies used by the Inquisition when attempting to exorcise a possessed individual. The same occurances also play out in several "fictional" tales published in Dagger & Garter magazine.

Can the authorities stop Vogul, before he continues his misguided rampage against those he claims to be bewitched? Or will all deviants involved with the staged black masses feel the wrath of Vogul's "Sword of the lord."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Conclusion:

There are many picture jumps & color shifts that may prove distracting for some viewers. The various changes can only hint at just how many changes the film has endured over the years. (Like many Franco titles, many cuts and versions baring various titles exist.)

The minor distractions really did not affect my viewing experience, I found that at every turn there was some beautiful nude woman to enjoy (Franco regulars, real life companion Lina Romay & Monica Swinn most notable as The Directress from Barbed Wire Dolls) as always have no problem displaying their various attributes regardless of the scenario.

And much like, Barbed Wire Dolls the film has a very off kilter, abrupt ending that if properly fleshed out could have only heightened the whole experience.

Worth a rental if an individual is unfamiliar with Franco's brand of exploitation. (I also thought that Synapses reversible dvd cover was a pretty neat idea.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screen Captures: (Please note: all screen captures are taken by me. Please, give me credit if you intend to use them.)

Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
Review:

A female undercover police officer (Rei) is imprisoned for killing a rich diplomat responsible for the death of a close friend. The vigilante cop is now forced to waste away in the confines of prison, with fellow inmates that thrive on subjecting her to their fits of sadism.

But...not for long..

An unruly gang member is released from prison, where he promptly resumes his life of crime with his gaggle of barbaric goons. They embark on a crime spree, first by intruding on an unsuspecting couple engaged in conversation about their engagement. The men quickly dispatch the boyfriend, before taking turns repeatedly violating his poor fiancee. (Rather then give their nude and prone victim a chance to divulge their crimes to the authorities, they decide to kidnap the girl and attempt to extort her family for money.)

Fortunately for our anti-heroine, her old colleagues have unorthodox plans for her. To have her prison sentence revoked, she must infiltrate the gang, dispatch its members and return their hostage safely. (The gang unknowingly kidnap the daughter of a man with political affiliations, who is also attempting to become the next president. Their demands include a ransom of 30,000,000 yen.)

The authorities manage to bait the gang with promises of a suitcase, filled with the ransom they requested. And insist that their leader meets an assigned patsy at a train station to confirm the transaction. As expected the plan goes awry, and the gang's leader makes a run with the suitcase only to be chased by a group of police officials. Fisticuffs ensue, before Rei puts a quick end to the confrontation by slicing the faces of several polices officers, enabling her escape with her purposed target..who openly welcomes her to join his gang.

Unfortunately for Zero woman, his distrusting cronies have other plans for her.... Will Rei save the future president's daughter and avoid creating a political scandal, or will she also become another victim?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
In Conclusion:

I have always had a fetish for badass beautiful women, with this film I could not help but be slightly disappointed. I wished that Rei had participated more in the violence at hand, as opposed to idly standing around doe-eyed while she is repeatedly raped and beaten.

Other then a few minor complaints, the movie is fantastic..it's cartoon-ish depictions of rape and violence are always a worthy source of entertainment. (& Miki Sugimoto is absolutely gorgeous, thankfully I will have more opportunities to see her, since the vast majority of her filmography consists of Pinky Violence titles.)

If you happen to enjoy stylish violence & vast quantities of female flesh you just might enjoy Pinky Violence. I know I am hooked.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
Screen Captures: (Please note: all screen caps are taken by me, please give me credit if you intend to use them)

Satan's Blood (1978)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review :

A young gullible couple (Andy & Annie) foolishly accompany two eccentric lovers (Bruno & Berta) back to their home for drinks. (After Bruno manages to convince a skeptical Andy of their previous friendship in College.)

On their arrival at a looming estate, located off the main road in a remote location. The couples overwhelming feelings of apprehension do little to hinder the two from following their strange hosts inside to discover interior adornments that consist of ceremonial paraphernalia and an extensive library on the occult.

The topic of the supernatural is discussed, before the foursome curiously decide to use the assistance of a Ouija board to communicate with the beyond. An encounter with a malevolent spirit during their seemingly helpless party game, causes turmoil among the couples when acts of infidelity and distrust are divulged. The experience proves to be too overwhelming for Bruno & Berta's guests, who try to no avail to leave the premises.

Each time the helpless couple is faced with a convenient situation (thunderstorm, faulty automobiles, etc.) or bouts of outright stupidity that only continue to halt any attempts for departure.

Will Andy & Annie persevere and live to regret their nightmare weekend? Or will they succumb to the corrupting influence of their party hosts and be condemned to an existence ruled by an allegiance to a malevolent cause?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Conclusion:

Our young naive couple provides myriad wtf moments as the viewer is forced to watch slack-jawed in disbelief at their outright stupidity. Most people would not return to a place stricken with madness because they forgot their purse. Or ignore the frustration of finding their car in a state of disrepair because their stomach was rumbling.

I found myself at times just shouting at the television screen, "Goddammit, just leave!" to no avail. Yet despite the air-headed lead characters, the movie does have a certain charm and atmosphere that cannot be denied. I still found myself really enjoying the movie despite its flaws.

Thankfully the title is available for your viewing pleasure in both dubbed (the dubbed version is actually pretty decent, compared to previous Mondo Macabro titles.) and subtitled versions. To those unsure about an immediate purchase, this would prove to be a worthy rental.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screen Captures: (Please note: All screen captures are taken by me, please give me credit if you intend to use them.)

 

Vampyres (1974)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review:

Two blissful lovers (Fran & Miriam) are murdered in the throes of passion by an unknown assailant, their re-animated corpses arise cursed to roam the English countryside in search of blood.

Unaffected by certain limitations associated with most bloodsuckers. The devilish pair cavorts about freely in the sunlight, luring unsuspecting motorists back to the seclusion of their cob-web adorned hideaway. (Where the twosome bait their guests with flesh games and copious amounts of alcohol, before dispatching them in a bestial frenzy.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

A vacationing couple (Harriet & John) unknowingly park their caravan in the general vicinity of the duo's gloomy abode, where they encounter Fran's newest male suitor, Ted. (Who requests their aid when he wakes after a night of debauchery to discover a nasty slash on his forearm.)

For reasons unknown the lovelorn chap manages to elude the same fate, prior guests have suffered. And is given ample time to unearth unsettling clues that lead him to question his own safety. (Mainly the resurfacing nude corpses of gentleman callers appearing on the side of the road for the authorities to discover.)

Will our imperiled traveler's escape the murderous wrath of the bloodsucking seductresses? Or will they also fall victim to their insatiable appetites?

Just watch and see....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Conclusion:

This film hypnotizes its viewers with many captivating visuals. From shapely nude bodies writhing around in ecstasy to shots of looming gothic estates covered in centuries worth of overgrown vegetation.
It exudes atmosphere and sensuality. Despite leaving some things open-ended and unexplained.
Overall, this movie comes highly recommended.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screen Captures: (Please note: all screen caps are taken by me. Please, give me credit if you intend to use them.)