Cinema of the Weird: Suffer, Little Children (1983)

This no budget film was produced at The Meg Shanks Drama School. It may have been used to promote the talents of the pupils. Rather bizarley it was made by children (or at least teenagers) and they chose to make a fairly violent horror film. They acknowledge its influences of Carrie and Halloween in the end credits.

A mute girl (Elizabeth played by Nicola Diana) is a new member at Sullivans Children's Home. The kids suspect she has "something weird" going on. One boy is pushed down a set of stairs or was it an accident? Plenty of other weird children's deaths, the nastiest being one girl who repeatedly stabs herself in the leg. There's also a weird zombie dream or possibly a hallucination which Elizabeth made them see. A "rock" band also visits the children's home and they later play a charity gig at a local night club. They look more like Bros., Wham or another camp 80s boyband than a bad boy rock band. They make George Michael look like Nikki Sixx.

The acting is OK, and they seemed to be going for a naturalistic approach which was rare at the time. The film is badly edited, directed and the special effects are shit. This adds to the charm and I could live with this, but the film commits the mortal sin no horror film should commit: it's abysmally boring. It's like my worst dates; too much talk, not enough action.

The film was seized by DPP after it was picked-up by a distributor. I don't know if it was the film's title or because of the video nasty moral panic going on at the time, but they seemed to think it was a child abuse film. Way off the mark, it's a third-rate devil-child film. More astonishingly, it actually got picked-up by a distributor (Films Galore) and the cost of legal proceedings drove them to bankruptcy. The film has a very small cult following in the US and UK, mainly for its bad film status. It's available to watch on Youtube and other streaming sites. There's also a great review in the Flesh and Blood Compendium.

Zombies Zombies

Cinema of the Weird: White : The Melody of the Curse (2011)

This is the first film I'm reviewing from South Korea. It's about a fictional band, I was disappointed as after seeing the trailer I thought the band might be real. Band movies are usually interesting, imagine how different Slade in Flame would be if it had been a supernatural slasher. The rival band in this film is a real band called After School, but why not have two real bands? Too close to "reality"? Who knows?

This film is a bit like Ring meets Swing Girls, that's oversimplifying things. Lazy comparisons are overused in film criticism. K-Pop band Pink Dolls, are losing out in the popularity stakes to new girl band, Pure. A videotape labelled White is found in the Pink Dolls recording studio, it contains a pop group performing a song. Pink Dolls cover the song "White" and it becomes a big hit. The lead singers that cover this song has something bad happen to them. They usually end up wrestling a pissed-off spirit in the dressing room with a gory conclusion. The girls decide the tape is cursed. The question is for a new film why wasn't it a cursed DVD or maybe even a video clip on a pen drive, unless it is a nod to Ring?

The film is a bit better than average. It features some glossy cinematography and clearly a bit of money has been spent on it. The gore effects are pretty decent and as is de rigueur for Korean horror films the blood letting is plentiful. The film carries some moral messages about the downfalls of fame, plagiarism and jealousy.  This film is well worth seeking out and with the rival girl band theme and good production values, it is slightly above most disposable Asian horror films.

Pink Dolls perform

Cinema of the Weird: Ammoru (1995)

As well as my sexy cinema column, I've decided to add one called Cinema of the Weird covering strange, rarely seen films from around the world. The Boxer's Omen is the first in my review series.

Ammoru (అమ్మోరు) is an Indian horror cum fantasy film. It reminded me a lot of Indonesian film, Mystics in Bali. Which is well worth checking out. The film involves an evil witch doctor who tries to do away with a young orphan woman, after she has him arrested. Her maid servant takes the form of Goddess, Ammoru and uses her magical powers to protect her.

This isn't your typical Bollywood film. There are some musical numbers, but they are very brief. There isn't really a romantic subplot. The running time of two hours is fitting with the length of typical Bollywood fare. There is a very brief sex scene, and loads of gore and blood. The film was released in 1995 and the special effects are decent. The film owes more to 80s and 90s straight to video horrors; not the video nasties, but those 18 rated ones I used to see posters for in Blockbuster and those sleazy, dark video shops in seaside towns, which sadly no longer exist.

I first saw the film on late night TV. There was a series of called Mondo Macabro. They occasionally screened a film after it, from the country featured on the documentary. A DVD label was later set up in the UK, unfortunately it was short lived, but the label went Stateside. Our loss was America's gain. It's fantastic that these films are gaining a wider audience. I'm not sure if Ammoru has an official release, but check it out if you get a chance. It hasn't been released by Mondo Macabro, but every Mondo Macabro release is gold.

Eye Popping Special Effects

Sexy Cinema: Mon Homme (1996)

We go to France for this edition of Sexy Cinema. Bertand Blier's often ignored Mon Homme is a great film. It's a non-judgemental look at prostitution and quite an understated film. No sensationalist violence, no explicit sex, all in all: a grown-up film.

Marie is a pretty prostitute who loves to have sex with men. A stark contrast from the string of desperate drug addicts we see in TV series like, The Vice. She's not a high class whore, like Belle de Jour in Secret Diaries of a Call Girl. She seems plain by comparison. A chance encounter with a homeless man in her building, leads to her having sex with him. After sex, a shower and dinner conversation; the two become lovers. The homeless man becomes her pimp. He takes on multiple women as his girls. He makes the mistake of trying to lure a seemingly innocent, office worker into becoming a prostitute. After riding the gravy train of wealth and lavish lifestyle he gets arrested by the vice squad. This leads to Homeless man, Marie and office girl discussing their relationships with a police officer. I'm not good at remembering names sorry.

The film doesn't pass judgement on sexuality or issues relating to prostitution. For a film made in the 90s, it seemed refreshing. Now in the media, it's hard to separate fact from fiction as to what prostitutes are really like. The most obvious answer would be: Multi-faceted from all walks of life. Yet, we are force fed that every whore is either the next Belle de Jour or the next victim of exploitation. Hardly balanced. The discussions in the film on sexuality are complex and lengthy. The dialogue is more graphic than the visuals. Marie is a complex characters and seems like a real, caring person.

If you are expecting sensationalism, look elsewhere. For a thoughtful and interesting take on Parisian prostitutes and pimps watch this.

Sexy Cinema - Marfa Girl (2013)

Adam Mediano and Drake Burnette

I have seen most of Larry Clark's film, but I was late seeing this one, simply because I didn't know it existed. Marfa Girl was released exclusively and solely through Larry Clark's website as a digital download. No cinema release, no straight to video, purely digital. Larry Clark was said to be annoyed by the way Ken Park was treated by distributors and critics, due to its sexual content, which was the main reason for an online only release of Marfa Girl. The film was priced at $5.99 for 24 hours access, the film has now been removed as it is now distributed by Spotlight Pictures, does that mean a DVD or Blu Ray release is imminent?

Set in Marfa, Texas; the film is a multiple character driven story about its inhabitants. Adam, a 16 year old, weed smoking, promiscuous male is failing his college class. The character sounds a lot like Telly, from earlier Clark\Korine film, Kids. I suppose, it could describe any number of teenagers in the world today. The difference between Adam and Telly is, Adam seem to have heart and be a good person, rather than be hell-bent on his own self-destruction. Marfa Girl (Drake Burnette) is a trust fund artist that tries to shake things up. We've also got boarder patrol agent, Tom. He's a sexist, racist, bully and the least likeable character.

It's no surprise that issues of immigration and identity play a big part in this film. And to me at least, it was glaringly obvious that the director was using the characters in the film as a mouthpiece for his opinions. This is nothing new in cinema, just look at any Godard film. Coupled with naturalistic acting and a believable plot, the dialogue for me in most parts seemed fake and took away from the realism. The film streamed in 480p, I was disappointed it wasn't higher, but the film looked gorgeous and very crisp.

For Larry Clark fans, it is more of the same. I'm not sure which film is his masterpiece, Kids, Bully or Ken Park - maybe he doesn't have one. Either way, I doubt the majority of audiences will be disappointed if they are looking for a confrontational slice-of-life drama.

Lindsay Jones

Sexy Cinema - Prostitute (1980)

Tony Garnett's social realist drama about prostitution has been out on DVD for a while now, but as one of the characters in this film might say: "I'm a tight git"; so I waited for the price to come down before buying it.

Streetwalking prostitute, Rose gets a three-month prison sentence for, well, street walking. With the help of her friend, benevolent social-worker, Louise they try start a campaign for the legalization of prostitution. Meanwhile, prostitute, Sandra leaves Birmingham and its massage parlours to become a "high class" prostitute in London.

The film could have been preachy, but like Cathy Come Home (a social realist film dealing with homelessness), because of the characterization and human aspect it manages to avoid being overtly moralistic. The film won't be to everyone's taste and a few reviewers described the film as boring. I can see why, but despite the subject matter, which has been done to death since, I found it fascinating. Have a look at Secret Diaries of a Call Girl to see a glamorized and some would say false view of prostitution. The film is shot to seem like a documentary. The acting is very naturalistic. It's a wonder why the actresses involved haven't been more successful or better known, or like many British actors tipped as being the next big thing, they just dropped off the radar or chose family life.Unfortunately, this film has a few stereotypes. They may not have been at the time, but the bent copper that gets paid off with oral sex and cash and the "dolly birds" discussing men's penises are all comedy clichés. At the time, and given this film was meticulously researched the corrupt policemen and chatty tarts were probably a regular staple of that lifestyle.

The film serves as an interesting period piece and seems distinctively retro. Look out for a Raleigh Chopper bike, complete with "testicle crippler" brake handle and many cars you don't see on the road any more. And while Birmingham may appear crowded and full of concrete skyscrapers to audiences in the 1980s, especially those from rural areas, compared to Birmingham in the 21st century it is positively sparse. The same can be applied to London. In one scene that has a lot of impact. A client dresses as a little girl and meets Sandra who is dressed as a little girl. "I look like a Berk" she proclaims. What follows is a stilted conversation, about the man wanting to play with her. Sandra warms to him and loosens up. This scene may have been highly shocking at the time, now with adult baby minding and cross dressing becoming well-known, the impact is taken away slightly, but it still makes you unsettled. That is a testament to acting and direction. In short, it's not a timeless movie, but why should it be?

The DVD has been remastered and has a superb picture, free from archive damage. For a film of this age as you would expect sound is 2.0 stereo, all levels are clear and free from static and other aural annoyances. The DVD is fully uncut and features the explicit oily handjob scene that was cut for cinema release. There's also a bonus documentary as an extra Jan Worth's Taking a Part - which is a student film about prostitution and is worth a look, at least once. Well worth the £8 I paid for it and I'm so glad that this isn't another lost British film.

Sexy Cinema - Cover Me Babe (1970)

Directed by Noel Black (Pretty Poison, Private School). This is a film about a defiant, but cold-hearted student filmmaker (Tony Hall, played by Robert Forster) trying to get a studio contract. Tony's films consist of documentary-style footage of implied sex scenes that he has filmed, an interview with a hobo and even a suicide jumper. Tony seems to be set on jeopardising his future career or maybe he is a defiant anarchist. This isn't clear. It transpires that he clearly has a gift for manipulating people and can get them to act naturally for his camera. He manages to piss off his college prof and two-time his on-off girlfriend for no real reason.

This is a strange film, if publisher 20th Century Fox did demand his script to be censored it would certainly be the reason why it seems unfocused. It was rumoured Noel Black wanted Al Pacino to play the lead role of Tony, once again Fox refused. If he had got the part would he have been as successful in the future? Pacino probably wouldn't have made The Panic in Needle Park, which was arguably his big break. Robert Forster does an OK job of playing the bastard, but is a bit wooden and lacks the charm to make you care about the unsympathetic character's outcome. He also looked slightly too old for the role of a student (he was 29 at the time). The crumpet is in the form of Sondra Locke and Susanne Benton, both look the part and act well. The film lacks polish and style, maybe Fox scrimped on the budget.

There's some nudity and implied sex scenes. The version doing the rounds seems to be largely uncut, although it has been suggested the cinema version had extended scenes. It is sometimes shown on Fox Movies. There is also an edited PG version of the film. This film seemed like a poor man's Medium Cool (also starring Robert Forster in the lead). It's not really worth anyone's time, but it is an interesting and dated curio. 

 

Sexy Cinema - Sexy Thrillers of the 80s and 90s

These films were box office smashes in the 1980s and 1990s. Basic Instinct is one of best known and one of the better films. These films started to die out in the late 90s. Many were panned. Disclosure and Sliver being two that garnered unfavourable reviews, but are half-decent films. Teen films took over. Cruel Intentions is sort-of a sexy thriller. Unfortunately, I think Hollywood realised that most of the money is to be made in family and teen films, and we end up with less mainstream "grown-up" films as a result. Given the moderate success of films like: Stoker and The Quiet, the tide could be turning.

Characteristics

• Often feature Yuppie-type characters, or rich business people (e.g. lawyers)
• Are often violent in places
• Are 15 or 18 rated in the UK, often R-Rated in US
• Sometimes feature a barely incomprehensible plot or ending
• Often feature a black mail subplot or a character that could "lose everything"
• Most have steamy sex scenes

Very Brief Reviews
Basic Instinct -  A must see. Crazy, violent and sexy. Features the iconic and much spoofed leg crossing scene and the ridiculous, confusing ending. 7/10. Also, check out spoof film Blondes Have more Guns.
Disclosure - Worth a watch. Part legal drama, part alternative reality, largely boring. 6/10.
Sliver - Dull. One with frequent sex scenes, but not even that can save it. 5/10.
Body Double - Excellent film. Spoofs the 70's porn industry to a tight-fitting tee. 7/10.
Consenting Adults - Silly, but stylish thriller film. Not worth anyone's time. 5/10.
Species - Sci-Fi alien-themed horror with a sexy edge. Not bad, albeit very corny. 6/10.
Bitter Moon - A class act from Polanksi, but it's overly long and quite dull. 6.5/10.
Fatal Attraction - The film that created the phrase "bunny boiler". Well worth a look. 7/10.
Zandalee - Rubbish and ridiculous. It was a flop for a reason. 4/10.
Cat People - Another horror themed one. Vastly underrated with a great soundtrack. I even bought a poster of it. 7/10.
Single White Female - Despite the hype surrounding this film, I expected more. 6/10.
Bound - Ends up stereotyping both Lesbians and gangsters. A stylish film, but it fell short of the mark for me. 6/10.

Late 90s and 21st Century Films
Basic Instinct 2 - The sequel was way too late and it's a boring film. 5/10.
Cruel Intentions - One for the kids? What it does it does very well. 6/10.
Stoker - A posh exploitation film. Suffers from being very cold and clinical though. 7/10.
The Quiet - a dark drama. Won't be to most people's taste. 7/10.
Eyes Wide Shut - A fine film. I'm not sure about the casting, but Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman pull it off. 8/10
Hollow Man - Horror based. Promised a lot, delivered little. 6/10.
Wild Things - Strange, but definitely sexy. It's OK. 6/10.
Where the Truth Lies - Frankly, it's the dog's bollocks. One of the best on this list. 8/10.

Sexy Cinema - The Washing Machine (Vortice mortale)

Weird choice for a film title - the blandness draws you in (and the sleazy poster art). Directed by Italian exploitation director, Ruggero Deodato (Cut and Run, Cannibal Holocaust etc) in 1993. The plot is about a police inspector who encounters three sisters, each one tries to seduce him and play games with him. He investigates a seemingly ridiculous case, a wealthy pimp disappears and one drunken sister claims to have seen his body chopped-up in a washing machine, very bizarre. The plot twists are just enough to keep you gripped, but they are far from subtle. With a theme of clairvoyance and some great cinematography; the film draws comparisons to Argento's masterpiece, Suspiria. The plot also seems to have borrowed from the American movie, Basic Instinct (the sisters theme, a sleazy cop, the combination of stylish sex and violence etc). Like some Giallo films the plot becomes an unintelligible mess, but it gives you just enough to (almost) piece it together coherently. The soundtrack is excellent, but it only appears to be a few tracks - it gets repetitive quickly. There is also plenty of flesh and sex scenes on display, the film lavishes them. Fans of sleazy movies won't be disappointed. Worth checking out if you are a horror fan, but it is a fairly mediocre movie, that leaves you feeling unfulfilled, a bit like the men in this film.

Italian cover art

Decameron Vs Virgin Territory

Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron has been adapted many times for screen. Which is better: silly, comedy, Virgin Territory or Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Decameron?

Virgin Territory is the newest of the two (2008).  It's a very loose adaptation of the stories and has been compared to American Pie. The film was poorly received by critics, I thought it was OK, but only OK.  It's a very light hearted, albeit vulgar comedy. Despite being a co-production with many European countries, the humour is distinctly British - lots of cheap knob gags, lots of jokes about poor sexual performance and a very obvious joke about milking a cow. I think they were going for an action-comedy, but the action is crap - the slapstick sword fights wouldn't look out of place in Disney's adaptation of Robin Hood. The jokes are largely crap and obvious, I did find myself laughing a few times though. The sex scenes are briefs, but plentiful with lots of breasts on display. It's a juvenile film aimed at a teen audience.

Passolini's Decameron is regarded as a classic. The film features adaptations of many of Boccaccio's tales. Like many of Passolini's films it does shy away from showing sex scenes. Like Virgin Territory it is a comedy, but is less obvious and more witty in its approach. The sets and costumes are lavish and given that it is based on an Italian book and by an Italian director, it seems more authentic than Virgin Territory. The main criticisms I have with this film are: at nearly two hours long it almost outstays its welcome, the picture is washed out - I saw this on DVD, the Blu-Ray may rectify this.

Which is better? Passolini's version, of course. Was there ever a contest?
Both films are readily available on DVD and BR.

50 Shades of O

Everyone from an 18-year-old college girl to their 70-something Grandmother has heard of 50 Shades of Grey. This Twilight inspired fan fiction has gone on to become the fastest-selling paperback of all time. Everyone knows of its success, what many people don't realize is the story is very similar to Anne Desclos' (superior) Histoire d'O (Story of O). Anne Desclos used the pseudonym, Pauline Réage.

Let's look at the similarities:
Both feature a female lead character, who has a "master" - in O's case she has at least two.
Both are about a young woman's sexual awakening
Both feature male characters who are wealthy
Both feature characters taking part in Sadomasochism and bondage.
Both are by female authors.
Both feature submissive female characters 

Some of the similarities my seem tenuous, but I find it interesting how ideas get reused and in some cases, changed to be geared towards a new audience. There could be an equally long list of differences. The most obvious being the era each novel is set in.

It is worth seeking out the film version of Story of O by Emmanuelle director, Just Jaeckin. It features the lush costumes, panoramic scenery and style of Emmanuelle, but is little bit more depraved in its depiction of sexual activity. The film, Story of O was not released in England on video until 2000, the original 1975 cinema release was banned. It received a limited cinema re-release in 2000 - to my knowledge it only played one cinema in London.

Crash Re-examined

David Cronenberg's controversial film, Crash, first appeared on screens in 1996. It wasn't only one of the most controversial films of that year or even decade - it is one of the most controversial films of all time. It sits up there with the likes of: Lolita, Clockwork Orange and more recently, Passion of the Christ, in controversy stakes.

At the time many seemed to object to the combination of sex and violence, a combination that has given film censors a headache since filmmakers first put it to celluloid. Some people even said it promoted dangerous driving. Behind the sensationalist tabloids, is actually a very good film. Crash is dark, still shocking and strange. The sex scenes are much tamer than what can be shown today - check out the unrated version of Shortbus for proof. Crash deals with fetishistic sex, although a very obscure fetish of car crashes and the details which go with them. David Cronenberg and writer of the novel, J.G. Ballard managed to capture the obseesive nature of some fetishes perfectly, this can be seen in a scene were the crash fans watch footage of car crash-impact testing and get turned on. Surprisingly, the film is quite sexy in places in its own way. James Spader playing the role of new recruit, with wide-eyed naivety, observing a subculture which gets stranger and drags him in more and more, until he's too deep. Rosanna Arquette sizzles as the petite blonde woman with a caliper and  a huge leg scar which makes her even more appealing. A worthy mention goes to Elias Koteas who is superb as Vaughn, the hardcore, masculine, but also slightly cold, heavily scarred crash obsessive. All the acting in the film is very good to be honest. The cinematography is dark and moody, almost noir-esque. Yet, despite it arguably being a future classic and possibly one of Cronenberg's best film, it still got out shadowed by its own controversy, which at the time detracted from the film itself and put many off seeing it. Now that the controversy has worn off, now would be a good time to see it, if you haven't already and the uncut version is the one to go for. The book is also very well-written and well worth reading.

Kids Panic in Shanghai

I originally saw Shanghai Panic on Channel 4 back in the early 00s. I recorded it on VHS tape, unfortunately, the tape ran out before the end. I bought the DVD recently and have to say it's not as good as I remembered. It is still a unique film and well worth watching. The film can be compared to, Larry Clark's Kids. Both have a HIV theme, sex scenes/sexual discussions, drink and drug use and both feature young people. Shanghai Panic differentiates in that it is set and filmed in China and it lacks the gloss; it is a bit rawer. If you tuned in half way through Shanghai Panic you could mistake it for a documentary. The only time it slips from reality are the blurring camera effects to show the kids high on ephedrine. Unlike Kids, Shanghai Panic seems to have more of an emotional punch. Kids by comparison is a little cold; yes it's shocking and makes you feel uneasy, but it's not emotionally affecting. Kids is no doubt an important film, but is it a great film? I don't think it is, but it is a very good one. The same can be said for Shanghai Panic, it isn't a masterpiece, but it is a film I really like..still.

For a detailed plot description check out this page.
There's a much better review, than my mini one here
There's a trailer, but I don't think it does it justice:

The Boxer's Omen - Crazy Film

A wooden crocodile

I watched The Boxer's Omen (also known as Mo or 魔 ) recently and I have to say it is insane. It's a Shaw Brothers film. For anyone who has seen: Mighty Peking Man or Super Inframan will know just how crazy some of the Shaw Brothers studios films can be. Most are martial arts films, often set in the past. The Boxer's Omen is a sort-of horror, adventure film. It does feature some martial arts and plenty of action.

Midnight Marauders album cover?

It's starts off with a violent boxing match, which is clearly an homage to Raging Bull - slow motion spit, blood on the ropes etc. From that point on it get weirder. An ancient Buddhist god in a warehouse offers his help to our hero against a group of pissed-off gangsters - he murders them all. The hero must search for a golden Buddha statue to save an aging Buddhist from death and help him gain immortality. At least I think that's what it was about! The special effects are crazy; they look dated now, but that's half the fun. Check out the wooden crocodile in the picture. I would definitely recommend this to people who liked The Bride with White Hair, A Chinese Ghost Story and other fantasy, martial arts film. If you like Asian horror films, it is also worth checking out for the weird special effects and some genuinely creepy moments - it's not recommended for people with Arachnophobia.

Battle in Heaven - Anapola Mushkadiz

Anapola Mushkadiz

I watched Battle in Heaven (Batalla en el cielo) recently. It's a 2005 Mexican film directed by Carlos Reygadas.

I'm not going to write about the plot because that information is available elsewhere. The film is a powerful, poetic and lyrical film; a true art film in every sense of the word. It features religious iconography, contrast with very explicit real sex scenes. Due to the sex scenes, it wasn't taken as seriously as it should have been and it meant that some viewers watched it purely for the sex scenes and were disappointed by the films abstract nature. It begs the question as to: why films with explicit sex scenes can't be considered artistic? Why can't a pornographic, but stylish and complex film like, The Devil in Miss Jones be held with the same regard as anything to come out of Hollywood, world cinema or the independent film stables? Because most critics won't allow it. It's worth pointing out Battle in Heaven isn't a porn film. It's also worth pointing out that although I liked the film very much, it's not a great film (it is simply very good); it is however, one of the more interesting and original films that I've watched this year. It's available on DVD in USA, UK, France and Spain to name a few, so, check it out if you get the chance, but it's not for everybody.

Anapola Mushkadiz is the gorgeous actress who plays Ana in the film. According to Imdb, so far, she's only played another acting role in Hate 2o also, as a character called Ana. She has one of the best bodies I've seen in a film for a long time and strange, but nice hair (in the film she wears seashells in it!).

Filth! - Legs

Rollergirl in Boogie Nights

It's been a while since I've posted in the "popular" Filth! guise. This time it's legs.
A lot of people ask the question:
"Are you a breast or a bum man?"
The answer is always "I prefer the legs".
Why do I prefer legs? - I don't know. The more slender the better and the longer the better. Some have a preference towards materials (e.g. tights, stockings etc) and some like to see them below a short skirt. Others like a pair of thigh length boots, but that comes under the whole footwear\feet fetish which is another topic for another day. I prefer them naked myself and smooth.

For two good films featuring legs used well, check out Sharon Stone unfolding her legs in Basic Instinct or Heather Graham in tube sock and roller skates in Boogie Nights.

For something more explicit check out the House of Legs series from Nucleus Films.

Sexy Cinema - Come Play With Me

In the 70s, France had Emmanuelle, America had The Devil in Miss Jones, the UK had sex comedies like: Come Play With Me and Confessions of a Window Cleaner.

There is no way hardcore films would have passed uncut in the UK in the 70s -Deep Throat wasn't released uncut until the 00s. Emmanuelle was a hit in the UK, but for whatever reason homegrown fare wasn't as exotic or sexy. The UK made do with so-called sex comedies, these films were not sexy or even remotely funny. They were born out of the  musical hall tradition, that involved bawdy songs and silly jokes. The sex comedies are often cited as being dirtier versions of Carry On films, but to be fair to the Carry On films; at least they were well-written and acted for the most part.

Come Play With Me stars sex-bomb, Mary Millington. Her girl-next-door good looks and down to earth nature, earned her a cult following and many fans. Her acting in this film is also pretty decent. The film was massively successful in the UK and had many cinema-goers reaching for their dirty macs. An early magazine campaign had the line "the British Deep Throat would make Linda Lovelace look like Noddy". This was pure hype, Come Play With Me features no explicit sex, it features a lot of female nudity, but not much else.

This film is bad. Poor sex scenes, bad jokes, the acting wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but it's hardly great. Surprisingly, the film does have a charm to it. Most people will watch this for Mary Millington and some of the other crumpet on offer, but it's a fair cry from any American hardcore film in terms of sex and the French & Italian exploitation films of the time in terms of sensuality\eroticness.

It's available on DVD for the curious.

For a great documentary check out: Sex and Fame: The Mary Millington Story if you get the chance.

For a detailed documentary on British sex comedies check out Sex in the 70s: Blue Movies if you can find it.

Here's a trailer:

Cat Girls

I watched Cat Girl Kiki last night - what a crazy film! It got me thinking about cat girl uniforms. The Japanese cat girl uniform is known as nekomimi, meaning cat ears; this look is popular in anime and cosplay. The most obvious Western film character would be Catwoman, complete with cat ears and as a bonus a leather bodysuit. The Halle Berry Catwoman film is average at best, maybe not the worst film ever made as some critics would have viewers believe. I still think Batman and Robin is the worst Batman spin-off film. As a further insult to the franchise, the Catwoman videogame was harshly reviewed.  However, Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns is smoking hot as catwoman and plays the character better than anyone (to date).
Some animation featuring catgirls include Dominion: Tank Police and Josie and the Pussycats. Surprisingly, Gunsmith Cats doesn't feature any to my knowledge.

Cosplay - Felicia from Darkstalkers

The question is are cat girl costumes goofy or sexy?

Of course, they're sexy. I would rather have a sexy cat girl clawing me than a flea-ridden bitch.

Filth! - Japanese Schoolgirl Uniforms

A new and hopefully popular theme, called Filth!, looking at different aspects of erotica, fetish and sex in popular culture. This time Japanese schoolgirl uniforms. I'm not a fan of uniforms, but I am a fan of all things Japanese.

A lot of men and women obviously like uniforms. I think the most popular ones are: military (army, naval, pilot, Nazi-themed etc), police, French maid, cheerleader, medical (doctor, nurse) and school related ones (schoolgirl, teacher, headmaster\headmistress).  The school ones and cheerleader ones have added appeal as they allow one person to be dominant and one submissive within their roles (if two people are involved) and the slightly taboo bonus of ageplay.

I think the Japanese schoolgirl uniform is sexier than Westernised ones, I'm not sure why, maybe, I've seen too many pictures of fat, middle-aged women posing as schoolgirls when they haven't worn one since the UK adopted the metric system. Seeing a woman's jelly rolls spilling over a garter belt, and two tree trunk thighs protruding from a short skirt that encourages a glimpse of big white "sailing flag" pants is enough to make me think about taking a vow of celibacy.

The Japanese uniform is obviously modelled on naval uniforms, there's a popular anime called Sailor Moon that features the lead female characters in these sailor uniforms. The uniform is known as: seifuku (pronounced a bit like safe-koo in English - I think).

I once dated a Japanese woman in her twenties who wore one for me, as a treat. I was instantly sprung, like a new mattress.If you doubt the effect these uniforms can have, buy one for your partner.

With the popularity  of Cosplay in the West, more Western women are donning these sexy, sailor uniforms. Long may it continue.

Links and extra info:

Male uniform
There's also an all black Japanese male middle & high-school uniform called gakuran or tsume-eri. The film Death Note features some good examples of them.

 Films\TV featuring seifuku: 
There's loads, especially in Anime and Japanese movies, but here are some key ones.
Kill Bill Vol 1 - features the gorgeous Chiaki Kuriyama wearing one.
Sailor Moon
The Machine Girl
Teenage Hooker Becomes a Killing Machine
Love & Pop

Excellent Wiki article on uniforms

eBay is a good place to buy the uniforms