Some Nudity Required

Hack directors/producers like Jim Wynorski, Dave DeCoteau, and Fred Olen Ray have long been guilty of substituting bare breasts for skilled or even competent filmmaking. And the women who own these breasts, either naturally or through silicone enhancement, are no less guilty. Are these women exploited? Yes, probably, but so are the male viewers who waste their money and their Friday nights watching this crap rather than developing relationships with real women. And while Wynorski, Olen Ray et. al. may be laughing all the way to the bank, they're no more likely to win an Academy Award than actresses like Maria Ford. They're equally trapped in a soul-less industry that exploits their dubious talents. But while this documentary preaches about the exploitation of women it nevertheless contains rampant female nudity and appeals to the sort of male viewer who will watch it with the sound down and/or one hand on the fast forward button. It is truly a sad state of affairs that low-budget filmmaking today has become almost completely synonymous with softcore porn, but this hypocritical doc. does little to remedy that situation. I was particularly offended with the way the documentary (or at least some of the interviewees)seems to equate horror/exploitation movies with snuff and sexual sadism. The truth is the"erotic thriller" is the domain of people who don't have the talent to make horror movies yet are a tad too respectable for hardcore "adult" industry. And the less said of the co-director's tastelessly self-indulgent revelations of child sexual abuse the better. Why can't all these self-loathing industry types just find another line of work?

Some Nudity Required (1998)

*** (out of 4)

Odette Springer was the mind behind this documentary that takes a look at "B" movies and the certain requirements that are expected out of women. Springer got her start working for Roger Corman but she soon realized that those type of "B" movies required the women to appear naked. The documentary features interviews with the likes of Julie Strain, Jim Wynorski, Roger Corman, Fred Olen Ray, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Andy and Arlene Sidaris and Brinke Stevens.

SOME NUDITY REQUIRED is a pretty strong documentary that questions some of the things that are required out of women. There's no question that the movie wants to attack the fact that women are expecting to look a certain way and the documentary wants the viewer to question why they watch these types of movies. At the same time, you've got directors like Wynorski on hand here offering up rather truthful comments including him saying that the majority of the people renting these movies aren't housewives but instead men who want to see beautiful women naked.

The documentary tackles various subjects and it remains extremely entertaining throughout. Obviously, the film puts down the fact that nudity is required yet there's plenty of nudity throughout the running time including getting some behind-the-scenes footage. If you're a fan of these types of "B" movies then this documentary really does a great job at taking you into the pre-production of these films and what decisions are made before the cameras started rolling.

Ms. Springer obviously has a bone to pick with the industry and she has her right to do so, of course.

However, not all B erotic movies are filled with sex coupled with violence to the extreme, as she seems to suggest. Some are well done with fairly high production values for the genre, excellent acting, and even decent plots; for example, "Secrets of a Chambermaid," "Testing the limits," "Lolita 2000," "Virtual Encounters," and many more. I believe some actresses, such as Nikki Fritz, take their roles with a professional attitude and are to be admired; there are others, such as Kira Reed, Amber Newman, Brandy Davis, Jacqueline Lovell, Samantha Phillips, and Regina Russell, who also do quite well and need not be ashamed of their work. These women, after all, have not gone into hardcore, although I'm sure many of them could have.

I notice that Stephanee LaFleur. one of the better actresses in this category who either voluntarily or under pressure has her breasts grossly augmented through surgery, provides a negative comment below though

I don't think I am way off base here, but if so, send me a response.

The documentary offers an inside view at the making of low grade sexploitation and slasher films. It features many clips of films in the genre and as well as interviews with stars and directors. The Director of this film is a sound worker who has done a number of the actual films. She is a victim of sexual abuse as a child and weaves her tale lightly into the movie. The film has a feminist "awareness" but is not a feminist indictment of the genre because it is too honest the director herself uses MANY graphic film clips so much that this documentary becomes a part of genre that she wishes to criticize! In fact this was probably done on purpose because as the interviews reveal T & A and violence sell. The interviews with directors and stars (including Roger Corman) are light, Frank and very honest. Some of the clips show the directors working styles and are interesting and sometimes hilarious. Topics include Objectification and film, The hollywood system and the pressure on the actors to go along with the B movie Directors whims, The directors thoughts on the films, psychological links between Fear, sex and violence, Sexual abuse and sexual ambivalence, and more. The film is a "must see" for B Movie fans with an interest in the film industry, film students, and Feminists. Overall it is a highly enjoyable (but Graphic) informative piece of work.

Being a fan of typical "bad" movies I was very interested to see this documentary. I have seen numerous of the movies that were featured (I have to admit) but never really thought about the people making the movies. One thing that amazed me was how good the at acting the actors became outside of the movies. Julie Strain displayed more emotion and feelings in the few minutes she was featured than in all of her other movies combined. Of course in those few minutes she showed what a shallow person she is. As most of the directors and producers seem to be. They all seemed very paranoid about their movies being called exploitative.

Overall the movie was quite good. I could have done without the home video of the little girl naked (flashback to molestation of Odette as a child). Also it seemed that the footage of Maria Ford (one of the main interviewees) was overdone. I am a fan of hers but it seems that she was exploited for this film to make it more gritty. Many of the others interviewed didn't see a problem (being more concerned about making money).

7/10