dontfeedthewabbit

I believe that "The Last Showgirl" is one of the best films of 2024, technically and artistically speaking, but it is still an unsatisfactory film, for me. I am an experienced viewer and I recognize in the story told here other female stories that were told with greater power and greater impact. One of them: "Leaving Normal", 1992.

"The Last Showgirl" is too brief for the excess of dramatic resources presented - a young friend in search of maternal attention, a hurt daughter, the attempt to have a relationship with a long-time friend, all of this kind of strangles the protagonist Shelly, who seeks to see a way out for herself, in the face of the end of the show she dedicated herself to.

Pam Anderson deserved more time and space to give Shelly all the confused and reflective dimension that she has. Just like her friend Annette, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. And, ultimately, I missed meeting "Le Razzle Dazzle".

Regarding the quality of Pamela Anderson's performance, I never thought otherwise. I really liked her in Barb Wire, since I was a child, I also liked her in Blond & Blonder and I like her appearances in other films. I'm happy that my muse is finally starting to get the recognition she always deserved.

In the underworld of direct-to-video erotic thrillers, "In the Heat of Passion" really is an outlier. It is reasonably well written and well executed - I imagine the difficulties were financial and technical -, it has an engaging atmosphere, a great soundtrack, the cast is competent and the direction shows creativity.

The sensual scenes could have been better explored, they seemed rushed and standardized to me, something that should just be there. But since I am not a puritanical viewer, I like boldness in this department too.

Despite this, the film remains entertaining and rhythmic from beginning to end and escapes the commonplace. It really needs a second look and to be restored, it is not a VHS work to be forgotten and simply disappear.

A great and entertaining adaptation of HP Lovecraft as only Dennis Paoli could write. I'm glad Joe Lynch didn't change Paoli's already well-known absurd pace to fit the current horror sluggishness. "Suitable Flesh" starts off frenetic and, accustomed to the format of streaming movies, I expected it to slow down after 30 minutes and subsequently lose direction. That didn't happen.

What begins with a call for help quickly reveals itself to be a trap for a real curse. A possession in several aspects, with an emphasis, of course, on the carnal. Judas Lewis has the physical attributes necessary to make Heather Graham's seduction plausible and his character enters a never-ending sexual nightmare, until it intensifies and expands to the point of completely losing its meaning - like real nightmares.

I may have missed a bit more "flesh" given the nature of this story, but I wouldn't have been embarrassed by a bit more heat on screen and a bit more ingenuity in the cinematography and delirium effects. Despite that, the soundtrack is great, the direction is nimble and it easily brings to mind Brian Yuzna, Stuart Gordon, Sam Raimi and Wes Craven, and the entire cast plays their roles well, with special mention for Barbara Crampton in the final act.