Spermula

I wasn't expecting much when I picked this erotic film from the 70s. So it was a very pleasant surprise! due in part to the scenario tinged with paranormal, fantasy and science fiction and most of all, I was fascinated by the strange and hypnotic atmosphere through the whold movie. An attractive and strong visual identity, reminiscent of art deco and the baroque, and quite unique aesthetic choices make sure that they are images that you will no so soon forget. I really like the scenes at the "Ruth" cabaret which come back like a leitmotif and literally transport you to another epoch. The nudity scenes are filmed very aesthetically and the main actresses are very beautiful. Charles Matton, the screenwriter and director, was also a sculptor, painter, illustrator and photographer. This probably explains that ...

There are also some real convincing actors in this film which deserves to be known and turns out to be much more interesting than its slightly stupid title suggests. It is an artist's film with multiple talents, an allegory on women freeing themselves from male power represented by the mayor and the cardinal, but also succumbing to the eternal power of love ... The painter Tristan, the dwarf and the black dancer Ruth seem to be the only beings to have retained a certain form of innocence and purity which allows them to escape the world of illusions and perversions. Recommended!

"Spermula" is about a race of bodiless aliens living on the doomed planet of Spermula, and their attempts to eradicate the human race so that they can have their planet. The Spermulites take the form of women whose mission is to suck all the sperm out of the human males, thereby dooming the species; despite admonishments that they do not enjoy their sexual acts with the human males, all of them eventually begin to succumb to the temptations of the flesh. The famous Udo Kier plays a Spermulite who has been accidentally made a male (with an inconsiderable member), and who refuses to ask the "Great Mother" that he be made a female: he wants to be male and marry a woman. This unique and bizarrely stylized satire of conventional sexual morality somehow never became a cult hit - and very undeservedly too, as it is filled with some of the funniest dialogue this side of "Andy Warhol's Bad". As I understand it, the French filmmakers dubbed this into English themselves for their own aesthetic purposes, but I'm not entirely sure of this. It is now very obscure, but well worth the effort it takes to ferret out a copy - and hopefully some day it's worth will be more widely recognized and appreciated.

The reviews for this film and the plot description may seem confused because it is actually two different movies. The first film, in French, is the story of a secret society that returns to civilization. The second film is English dubbed and uses parts of the original film to make an entirely different science fiction story. Just as Woody Allen did with "What's Up Tiger LIly", so someone did in this instance, unfortunately, they didn't give the film a different name, so now they are permanently confused.

Spermula is a great, intensionally funny sex/sci fi flick, and it got Udo Kier (the world's most handsome man!) in one of the major roles. What more could you possible need? The story is based around "spermulites", the alien inhabitants of a dying planet. The only way they can save their planet is by sucking the men of planet earth dry of sperm, kind of like horny vampires. Of course they take the shape of sexy girls, but Udo's character is mistakenly transformed into a man with a 1 centimeter long penis. It's a very dumb movie, but it got heart and wit. Unfortunely it's a bit overlong. And Udo's voice has been dubbed, ruining the day for all us "Udolites" who love to hear his sexy mid european accent.

But it's still a good and fun flick, too well made to be labelled camp. They don't make erotic movies like this any more. Recommended.

You might have some trouble trying to find a copy of this lost Udo gem, but it's well worth the effort.

Anti-sexual aliens from a dying planet exact a wild invasion plot by disguising themselves as beautiful women. Taking residence in a Gothic style castle, they proceed to put into motion their sinister strategem of sucking Earth men dry(no, not blood, kiddies), thus quashing Earthly reproduction practices and rendering our planet theirs for the taking. A monkey-wrench is thrown into their plan when they begin to enjoy their dirty work.

Surprisingly high-style film is simultaneously erotic and riotous, and featuring some of the most stellar beauties of 1970s European exploitation cinema. Udo Kier is on hand as well in one of his typically bizarre roles, as the alien who "accidentally" emerges in the body of a male.

Frustratingly difficult to acquire(especially in a watchable transfer), SPERMULA is a great looking, fun, and deliberately absurd novelty which will hopefully be given a first-class DVD release at some point in the near future...it deserves one.

7/10