by: NYCalling
Posted on 11.10.09 in All Horror Films > Cult/Erotic > Torture
Release Date: 1975

Horror films, and especially exploitation pictures, have always been about selling the sizzle as opposed to the Steak.

David Friedman, one of the high kings of exploitation films, noted that exploitation films by nature were always better in the trailer then in the actual film. The taglines and trailers are used to entice you into see these films. And most times, a film won’t live up to all the hype. Believe me, there are some films where I don’t need to remind myself that “it’s only a movie.” It’s pretty obvious it’s a movie and one so bad that I wonder if they even had a script before they started the cameras. So any film whose tagline is “The lucky ones simply got their brains blown out” would seem to have a lot to live up to. Fortunately, Greek director Nico Masterakis did his best to live up to the film’s trailer and tagline. As a matter of fact, he probably exceeds it. I’ve seen the trailer for the film, and it hardly equals the sheer nastiness in the movie itself.

The film follows a young couple who vacation on a small Greek island. Where this film immediately gets it right is by having the couple, who you figure are going to be stalked, murdered, eaten or any other horror standard you can picture be the villains. After a disturbing sex scene in the middle of which the young man phones his mother to listen in (and taunt her), they proceed to kill the locals who they feel are sinners. Most of the people who they murder are killed in very gory ways, and Director Masterakis keeps the body count moving. There’s a sort of sub-plot of a Police Offer after the couple, but it gets resolved readily enough by our twisted Bonnie and Clyde. Every person the couple encounters on the Island seems to have some sort of sexual hang up or quirk, which the (admittedly attractive couple) use to their advantage. There is a pretty good twist ending as well, and the hypocrisy of the couple is exposed pretty shockingly.

This is a vile, vile film. In interviews I’ve read with the director, he admitted that he deliberately set out to make a real shocking and boundary pushing film. I think he pretty much succeeded. The film contains implied bestiality (and the murder of said animal, a Goat): a ‘golden shower’ scene, multiple murders by multiple means, including gun, knife and hanging: and a crucifixion that ends with the couple drowning the victim in paint. Needles to say, this was one of the infamous British nasties that were banned across the pond. There are a ton of cut versions out there, but of course you want the full uncut version. I mean, why else would you want to watch such a nasty, grimy film? In the best Grindhouse tradition, this is the type of film that you would slink out of the theater, or should come in a brown paper bag when go to order it on video.

In other words, you should either go buy or rent this film immediately. This is one of those Grindhouse films, like Thriller: a cruel picture and The Amazing Mr. No Legs that’s essential watching. Plus it’s a lot more perverse then the average cookie cutter horror film.

• ★★★★★

  Acting:

• ★★★★★

  Blood:

• ★★★★★

  Violence:

• ★★★★★

  Partying:

• ★★★★★

  Language:

• ★★★★★

  Humor:

• ★★★★★

  Predictable:

• ★★★★★

  Girls:

• ★★★★★

  Gore:

• ★★★★★

  Sexuality:

• ★★★★★

  Torture:

• ★★★★★

  Overall:

I don't know about a footprint, but it's definitely a sleazy gem. Highly recommended, albeit with forewarning.

I gotta expand my exploitation collection. Sometimes it's hard to believe i'm missing all these films that have left such a solid footprint in the underground industry.