Der Kuss der Bestie

Two post-collegiate friends in Italy watch a traveling sideshow and get drawn into mystery of cursed supernatural horrors.

The story by Charles Band and screenplay by Dennis Paoli feature drugging and raping women in the name of a dreamy take on Beauty and the Beast. On revisiting since it's release it is at times a little uncomfortable viewing unless gratuitous sex scenes are your thing.

It opens up like The Church, with an interesting titbit about crypts and oil paintings all in Italian dialogue, there's impressive locations, sets, music (by Pino Donaggio) and some special effects etc but it's not long before it becomes an erotic, Gothic mystery that's gives off a Meatloaf music video vibe. Thankfully there are a few twists to the tale which gives it some much needed weight.

Actors Sherilyn Fenn and Charlie Spradling are solid enough Hilary Mason as Martha is her fantastic creepy self. Vernon Dobtcheff is first rate as the priest. Malcolm Jamieson does his best with the duel twin role but looks uncomfortable at times even when emulating the best and worst of Hammer Horrors.

Meridian has a hazy, dream-like quality which offers mood and atmosphere, to its credit it hasn't a direct to video visual look, Band delivers a filmatic quality of Full Moons Paramount days.

Overall, it's themes are dated even more so in these conscientious times and rob Meridian of being Bands Howling. Watch for curiosity if nothing else.

This film will not challenge anyone intellectually. The castle where a good portion of the movie is filmed does have an eerie feel about it. Charlie Spradling and Sherilyn Fenn play the two women who are drugged at the castle where they live by some weird circus performers. The leader of the group takes Fenn into a back bedroom and strips her down and looks like he is going to have a good time with the nubile, lovely lady but then he passes her over to his twin brother. The leader then goes and strips down Charlie Spradling and and ravages her body while his brother gets it on with the drugged Fenn. Weird!

Meridian is an erotic horror film that used to be known under the name 'Phantoms' here in the UK. It was directed by Charles Band for his Full Moon production company who were known purveyors of B-movie schlock. This one seems to have a bit more of a budget about it, although it was still a straight-to-video effort. In fact, it could easily pass itself off as an Italian movie, seeing as it benefits from a very nice on-location Roman setting; while the soundtrack from the popular composer Pino Donaggio gives it a lush Euro atmosphere, in a late 80's kind of way. Its story focuses on a young American woman Catherine who inherits an Italian castle. One day, she and her friend encounter a group of travelling carnies whom they invite over for dinner, only for this to end in both girls being drugged and raped by their guests. Supernatural events follow…

The film is sort of a sex and horror version of the 'Beauty and the Beast' story and keeping with its fairy-tale roots it remains a pretty restrained, albeit erotic in places. The reason it's sexy is also the prime reason to see it and that is undoubtedly on account of its two incredible leading ladies, Sherilyn Fenn and Charlie Spradling. They are certainly the best thing about this one and both feature prominently in a very sensual and well shot erotic sequence, which you will sure know when you see it. As astronomically beautiful as Ms Fenn is, I actually thought that Charlie was - incredibly - even more attractive. Needless to say, these girls are pure candy for the eyes. Unfortunately Charlie more or less vanishes for the second half of the movie and the plot then focuses on the ghostly goings on surrounding Sherilyn. Perhaps inevitably after such a strong start the film does fade somewhat as it goes on, yet it remains pretty stylish and entertaining for the most part. But see it for Charlie and Sherilyn would be my advice.

The film Meridian is basically a live version of the classic cartoon "Beauty and the Beast" but without the singing teapot, candle, and clock and some other plot changes. The heroine, as played by Eye Candy Hall of Fame inductee Sherilyn Fenn, inherits a creepy castle. One day, she and her friend (fellow inductee Charlie Spradling) venture down to the village and watch a creepy little circus. They proceed to invite the creepy performers back to the castle for dinner. The creeps then drug our two ladies, and while in an altered state, the creepy ringmaster disrobes them to engage in a carnal act. Here at the academy we deplore the concept of date rape or any other act of sexual aggression within a film to justify a nude scene. In this case it is an important plot development, the film is of the horror genre, no physical abuse is incorporated in the scene, and the fact that it proceeds at a snail's pace causes us to forget what triggered the event. Putting our bias aside, upon viewing the de-clothed heroines, we realize that Sherilyn looks Fenn-tastic and Ms. Spradling ain't such a bad thing. In fact hold onto your beer while admiring the natural talents of Ms. Spradling. This scene alone fulfills the requirements of the academy but the film alone does not (no more worthy scenes of nakedness). As for the film itself, the story then proceeds along to answer the following questions: Can the curse of the Man-Beast be lifted?, Why are there strange happenings at the castle?, Will Ms. Fenn's character find true love?, and How come some of the castle walls are made of cardboard?

Young American sculptor Catherine (Sherilyn Fenn) returns to her family castle in Italy where she meets up with her pal, artist Gina (Charlie Spradling). After enjoying the sights of a travelling sideshow, the girls invite the performers to the castle for dinner. During the evening, the friends are drugged and raped by twins Lawrence and Oliver (both played by Malcolm Jamieson), one of whom is evil, and the other cursed to turn into a beast whenever he gets the horn!

Those who watch Meridian in order to see Twin Peaks babe Sherilyn Fenn in the altogether will no doubt be more than happy by the actress's frequent unclothing, but they may be amazed to find that Fenn isn't the fittest bird in the film: outshining Sherilyn is Charlie Spradling, who only has the one nude scene, but what a scene it is! If only the roles had been reversed, giving us more opportunity to fully appreciate her incredible physical attributes.

In addition to the impressive forms of both of its leading ladies, Meridian also benefits from excellent special make-up effects courtesy of Greg Cannom (channeling his inner Rick Baker for a cool transformation scene), a lush score from Pino Donaggio, and sumptuous cinematography from Mac Ahlberg. It's a shame that the story isn't really worthy of such talent - a weak 'beauty and the beast' style fantasy horror yarn spiced up with erotica, that director Charles Band is unable to bring any magic to: his attempts at style and classiness (slow motion, red light and smoke) amount to tedium for the most part, while the script conveniently glosses over certain plot elements with fairytale 'anything goes' dream-logic (thereby avoiding addressing such questions as 'Why does the painting being restored by Gina depict events that are about to happen?',' Why is there is a glowing red portal in the castle walls?', and 'Why do the sideshow ghosts enter and leave through the mouth of a statue?').

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb. Recommended to fans of Fenn and Spradling for obvious reasons, but the slow pace and trite gothic romanticism makes it a bit of a bore at times.