La comtesse perverse

La comtesse perverse is a provocative, uneven blend of erotic horror and surrealism, riffing on the classic "Most Dangerous Game" premise but filtered through Franco's unmistakable lens. The film's greatest asset is its atmospheric cinematography, which uses shadows and natural light to create a haunting, dreamlike quality, particularly in early sequences set on the water and in the isolated mansion. Bruno Nicolai's score adds a layer of tension, occasionally elevating the mood when the pacing lags. Alice Arno stands out as the titular countess, delivering a performance that is both menacing and alluring, while Lina Romay, in one of her earliest roles, brings a vulnerable physicality that suits the film's exploitative tone. Howard Vernon and Robert Woods are reliable presences, but the acting overall veers from stilted to melodramatic, never quite grounding the outlandish narrative. The explicit content, which ranges from softcore to more graphic scenes depending on the version, feels more like a commercial afterthought than an organic part of the story, often overwhelming the film's attempts at suspense or psychological intrigue. While the visuals and occasional surreal touches intrigue, the film is ultimately undermined by sluggish pacing, repetitive sequences, and a lack of genuine dramatic tension. Despite flashes of Franco's idiosyncratic style, the movie struggles to maintain engagement, with the final hunt arriving too late and executed without urgency or suspense. For fans of Franco or Eurocult oddities, there is some appeal in the cast and the film's audaciousness, but most viewers will find it a frustrating, meandering experience that never quite delivers on its lurid promise.

Jesús Franco got more guts, vision and talent than a legion of today's movie directors. His movies never bore me: Countess Perverse aka La comtesse perverse belongs for sure not to my most favorite list of his works but that flick is still far more entertaining than 90% of Netflix and Amozon Prime productions of our modern days. Countess Perverse: it's trash, it's sleazy, it's funny and it's dumb for sure, but in a good way.

Back in the early 90s, as I teen, I ust to read Darkside Magazine, and Jesus Franco always took up a portion of it.

These movies were generally not in the public gallery, and to me they looked more like soft porn than horror. I would usually skip this section, but with birth of the internet I finally got around to watching them.

I can see why the British horror magazines gave Jesus Franco attention. For sure 50 percent is misogynistic porn. Cant even say soft porn, as there are real sexual acts on camera. Probably why hey never took off in UK at the time, as they would have been banned.

It is seldom taken from a female perspective, and indulges in male dark fantasies. Female on female intercourse, and close ups of hairy vaginas take up a good part of the running time of the movie. There is also sexual violence, but it presented in a erotic sexy sort of way. It is perverse, but in horror movie perspective rather tame. Sado masochistic would be best description, a theme that always seems to crop up in his movies.

What I like about these movies most is locations, architecture, mise en scène, dress wear etc. In these areas Jesus Franco is genius.

Better than hammer horror, or anything we were producing in UK in aesthetic sense, or at least on par with the very best.

His camera explores Spanish locations, not unlike he explores the female body with a passion, and the architecture and locations used are 2nd to none. Makes some interesting use of the wide angle lens in interior shots too.

I see influence movies like this may have had on Tim Burton/ David Lynch etc. From jutting volcanic rock faces, from islands emerging from the sea, to architectural marvels, his cinematography creates a kind of ethereal flow for the most part, which makes his movies easily watchable.

If sexual content is something that particularly offends you, then you wont like this movie. It could be easily accused of not taking sexual violence seriously, or eroticising it: but from a movie fans perspective, these movies are far from a dead loss.

It could easily upset feminists for example. Others may just find it slow paced and boring, with an over preoccupation with sex scenes. These criticisms would be certainly not be unfounded either lol.

This film was interestingly enough released the same year as Franco the dictators rule ended in 1975. This movie is in French but the location is the seaside town of Alicante according to IMDB. I been there and thought it was an awful place personally, but Jesus makes it look good some how. We are on an island or at sea for the most part, which probably helped.

With the camera hes almost a Kubrick. "The Most Dangerous Game (1932)", which this movie is said to be based on, is also one of my favourite early horror movies.

Have you read the Most Dangerous Game, also known as The Hounds of Zaroff? It's a short story by Richard Connell that came out in the 1920s. Even if you haven't read it, no doubt you know the story, there have been countless adaptations and movies based on the same idea. People trapped on an island, and being hunted off one by one by some very sick individuals. Sounds like Battle Royale, sounds like The Condemned, even sounds like the recently popular tween flick, The Hunger Games. What can I say, it's a damn good story. But I bet no one has ever seen anything quite like Jess Franco's version of this popular tale. Can you imagine if the fans of The Hunger Games saw this?! It would blow their minds!!! This is the one and only, Countess Perverse.

Countess Perverse follows the story far more closely then the previous mentioned adaptations, our villains are even referred to as Countess and Count Zaroff. The only difference being, Franco adds a certain... flavour.. to the mix, to make this flick quite the tasty treat. And of course, when Franco is involved, we know things are bound to get a little saucy. Actually that's an understatement, think of this as a very...sensual... version of the Most Dangerous Game. Some might even call it sleazy. And it is, I do recall a rape scene that very quickly turns into a consensual encounter. And of course the forever lingering shots directed at female genitalia, oh Franco, you romantic you! For the most part, the entire cast spend most of the movie nude. And with stars such as the always gorgeous Lina Romay, it's quite a sight. Rejoice for the human form and all it's beauty!

To add more beauty to this somewhat erotic movie, we have a gorgeous setting. The island is breathtaking, it's surrounded by beautiful ocean views, menacing rock formations, and interesting architecture for the Mansion that our victims find themselves in. The scenes where our cast walk down the steps in the house, tinted red, is such an interesting and menacing shot, it really stood out for me.

Finally, the music is quite beautiful in parts and also quite tribal in others. Really sets the movie for me. Just gorgeous. I'm coming to appreciate the musical sense in Franco's work. He knows how to tone the scenes.

Final thoughts? Most people probably would dismiss this movie as trash or porn without giving it more of a chance. It's unfortunate because this movie offers so much more than that, and while some scenes might be considered borderline pornographic, the film goes above and beyond those scenes. In a similar vein to Lorna the Exorcist, it's a damn good movie and one I recommend fans or Euro horror. Just be warned that this is an 18 years and over flick. Sorry kiddies, you keep enjoying The Hunger Games.

La comtesse perverse, directed by Jess Franco, is a film that attempts to blend elements of eroticism, horror, and drama. It tells the story of a countess who indulges in sadistic sexual games with her lovers, leading to a series of mysterious deaths.

The film's cinematography is visually captivating, with its use of shadows and lighting creating a haunting atmosphere. The surreal dream sequences add an intriguing layer to the narrative, making the viewer question what is real and what is not. However, these strengths are often overshadowed by the film's weaknesses.

One of the major issues with La comtesse perverse is its pacing. The story meanders, taking too long to develop and lacking a clear narrative arc. This results in a disjointed viewing experience, which may leave audiences feeling disengaged. Additionally, some of the performances feel stilted and overly dramatic, detracting from the overall impact of the film.

Despite these flaws, there are moments where the film manages to capture the viewer's attention. The exploration of themes such as power dynamics and sexual violence, while controversial, does provoke thought. Furthermore, the film's score, composed by Bruno Nicolai, adds a certain level of tension and suspense.

In conclusion, La comtesse perverse is a mixed bag. While it has its moments of intrigue and visual appeal, these are undermined by its slow pace and inconsistent performances. It may appeal to fans of erotic horror or those interested in exploring unconventional themes, but it falls short of being a truly satisfying cinematic experience.