The Spanish Exploitation cinema icon Jess Franco is doubtlessly one of the most eccentric, prolific and controversial European filmmakers. Whil his impressive repertoire of almost 200 directed films includes everything from brilliant to awful, his masterpieces are clearly those from the earlier decades in his career, especially the "Dr Orloff" films from the 60s and the psychedelic Erotic Horror gems from the early 70s. The films he made with the stunningly beautiful Soledad Miranda in the late 60s and early 70s are doubtlessly among his most memorable ones. One of the most mesmerizing beautiful women ever to bless the screen with their presence, Soledad Miranda tragically died in a car accident at the age of 27 in 1970. Her best-known films directed by Franco were released only after her death. The most widely known one is probably the Erotic Horror classic VAMPYROS LESBOS (1971). While that film is doubtlessly a must-see for my fellow Eurocine-lovers, this sexy, insane and incredibly groovy slice of classic Eurocult SIE TÖTETE IN EKSTASE aka. SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY (1971) is easily as memorable and entertaining.
The sublime Soledad plays the beautiful young wife of a Doctor (Fred Williams) who makes dubious experiments with fetuses. When a science-committee (consisting of cult-actors/Franco-regulars Howard Vernon and Paul Muller, the blonde Ewa Strömberg who also co-starred in VAMPYROS LESBOS, and director Jess Franco himself) condemn the Doctor's work and cause his debarment, he attempts to kill himself. His sexy young wife is now out for revenge - sexy revenge.
This is Jess Franco at his most prototypical greatest. A weird but exquisite combination of shameless sleaze and elegance, SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY epitomizes what Franco-admirers admire about Franco. Sleazy perversions and relatively perverse acts of violence, gorgeous naked women, incredible elegance and an insanely brilliant score (which is partly the same as in VAMPYROS LESBOS and THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA), fantastic settings and an overwhelming visual style are unified in an inimitable Jess Franco manner. The story is secondary, but still making more sense than in your typical Franco-flick. For my fellow Eurocult-fans, appearances by Franco's favorite macabre actor Howard Vernon or by Paul Muller are reason enough to watch a movie. Horst Tappert, who is best known as TV-detective "Derrick" in German-speaking countries once again has the minor role of a cop. The most convincing quality of this film (or any other that she starred in) is, of course, the divine Soledad Miranda. A true must for all fans of Jess Franco, Soledad Miranda and Cult-Cinema in general. My rating: 8.5/10
The sublime Soledad plays the beautiful young wife of a Doctor (Fred Williams) who makes dubious experiments with fetuses. When a science-committee (consisting of cult-actors/Franco-regulars Howard Vernon and Paul Muller, the blonde Ewa Strömberg who also co-starred in VAMPYROS LESBOS, and director Jess Franco himself) condemn the Doctor's work and cause his debarment, he attempts to kill himself. His sexy young wife is now out for revenge - sexy revenge.
This is Jess Franco at his most prototypical greatest. A weird but exquisite combination of shameless sleaze and elegance, SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY epitomizes what Franco-admirers admire about Franco. Sleazy perversions and relatively perverse acts of violence, gorgeous naked women, incredible elegance and an insanely brilliant score (which is partly the same as in VAMPYROS LESBOS and THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA), fantastic settings and an overwhelming visual style are unified in an inimitable Jess Franco manner. The story is secondary, but still making more sense than in your typical Franco-flick. For my fellow Eurocult-fans, appearances by Franco's favorite macabre actor Howard Vernon or by Paul Muller are reason enough to watch a movie. Horst Tappert, who is best known as TV-detective "Derrick" in German-speaking countries once again has the minor role of a cop. The most convincing quality of this film (or any other that she starred in) is, of course, the divine Soledad Miranda. A true must for all fans of Jess Franco, Soledad Miranda and Cult-Cinema in general. My rating: 8.5/10