|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
Sadomania | Year: 1981 Classification: Adult Entertainment Rated R Directed: - Jesus Franco Heavy on the Mania, Short on Sadism This film caught my interest when I watched the trailer on Blue Underground's Web site. But, alas, as so often happens, the trailer was better than the movie. "Sadomania" is overly long for what it is and much of it tends to drag. There are several eye-rolling moments to nudge you out of your stupor, however: A woman getting attacked by an obviously plastic alligator; prison uniforms of Daisy Dukes and boots--and nothing else; a governor's bushy fake mustache; toy guns, one of which even drips water when fired; and director Jess Franco in a small role as a swishy gay pimp. There are attempts to augment the movie's lack of sadism by offering plenty of sleaze, like the governor's wife (imagine a young Terri Garr in "The Ivana Trump Story") having sex with the prisoners to arouse her husband, then promptly selling them into white slavery (and after she tearfully told her husband she wants to have his baby!). But between the laughable dialog (the guards actually say, "Halt! Who goes there?") and sloppy production values, such trashy plot twists just add to "Sadomania"'s silliness. The prison's warden is played by transexual actress Ajita Wilson, who, aside from its laughable campy moments, may be the only other reason to see "Sadomania". Wilson's an exotic beauty and definitely dominates the scenes she's in, but Ilsa she's not. In an interview included on this DVD Franco says Wilson wasn't comfortable with her character's brutality and you can tell. Given her career in hard- and soft-core porn, it's not surprising she seems more at home in her sexier moments, like seducing a prisoner's skinny husband. Franco can't be entirely dismissed as a talentless hack, yet he makes so many decisions that make him appear so. Fans of his other movies may wonder what--and if--he was thinking with "Sadomania." The DVD's extras--an interview with Franco, Spanish and English trailers, a bio of the late Ajita Wilson--almost make it worth three stars. Too bad "Sadomania"'s three-star extras can't make up for the two-star movie. BO-RING! Don't get me wrong : I love Jess Franco. At least I love the Jess Franco who directed "Doctor Z", "Venus In Furs", "Eugenie, The Story of her Journey into Perversion" or "Succubus". These are dark gems of late 60's eurosleaze in its full glory : unashamedly weird and yet strangely compelling. In contrast "Sadomania" looks like a soulless cash-in effort, with very bland direction. Lots of nudity but somehow not titillating a bit. Just dull. I was so bored I couldn't watch the whole film, so who knows, maybe the ending kicks ass, although I doubt it very much. From Blue Underground's website.... "We Goofed on SADOMANIA! Several "day-for-night" scenes were inadvertently transferred for day instead of night or dusk. So, we re-graded the video, re-encoded the DVD master and replicated new SADOMANIA Version 2 DVDs. The SADOMANIA DVD you own is not defective. We just decided to upgrade the DVD for the purists among you. Do not return your SADOMANIA DVD to retailers. SADOMANIA Version 2 is only available directly from Blue Underground." If you are a US or Canadian resident and wish a SADOMANIA Version 2 replacement, please mail your SADOMANIA DVD along with your name and address to: SADOMANIA UPGRADE<BR>11271 Ventura Boulevard #500<BR>Studio City, CA 91604 Buy Sadomania at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Sadomania Search with the Priority Search Engine on Sadomania This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
