Hungry-Eyed Woman

I enjoyed WET LADY (aka THE SEA NYMPH), having seen it theatrically back in the '70s and now reacquainted via Something Weird's video revival on Volume 36 of its Dragon Art Series.

This watery opus was directed by Ted Denver, who despite his obscurity now was briefly a big deal back then with John Holmes' first big hit TEENAGE COWGIRLS. I saw that film on an annual trip to New York, and it was packin' 'em in on Times Square.

Maggie Williams is the title nymph, emerging from the ocean waves to wander through a town, mesmerizing and seducing men. That's the entire plot. Her first "victim" is Adam Ward, a guy who's cast so often in porn from this era you'd think he must have had some incriminating info on the mafia guys who financed this stuff.

Some SPFX would have helped sustain the premise, but Maggie is pretty, and manages to maintain a haughty, "above it all" demeanor that fits the role. It's basically the same format as the sci-fi "alien comes to earth to observe (& join in on) human sex practices" picture, but minus the usual comedy. Ultimately boring, but with plenty of sex.

Denver, as with COWGIRLS, didn't try very hard and his sloppiness shows. In the surf for the bookending segments Maggie is naturally unshod, but she keeps her shoes on during all the otherwise-nude sex scenes. The sync sound is kept going in nearly all scenes for no useful reason, as the cast's sexual murmurings and pointless improv dialog goes nowhere. Musical track largely consists of Ken Russell faves -I thought the major theme was from Frederick Delius' "Song of Summer", but don't quote me.

Film's dreamy, hypnotic tone goes well with its SWV-packaged co-feature ISLE OF LOVE, but there is a lengthy sequence in a photographer's studio that is generic porn and spoils the mood.