The Fireworks Woman

If I told a cinephile that a man by the name of "Abe Snake" directed a cheap, 1975 pornographic film by the name of Angela - The Fireworks Woman, they probably wouldn't flinch. If I said that "Abe Snake" was a pseudonym for The Last House on the Left and A Nightmare on Elm Street director Wes Craven, they may jump a bit. Indeed, between the grimy horror film that was The Last House on the Left and the game-changer A Nightmare on Elm Street, Craven faced financial/funding hardships due in part to the level of graphic content in Last House that forced theater projectionists to make their own edits to the content at hand.

In need of money, just like he would later do for The Hills Have Eyes 2, Craven phoned-in a project, this one by the name of Angela - The Fireworks Woman, a very graphic pornography film that owes itself to the newly-developed "porno chic" trend that revolutionized the way pornographic films worked. The films of "porno chic" were "at least as good in terms of production values as the B-movies Hollywood made," stated Ron Jeremy, and Angela - The Fireworks Woman occupies many of the same traits of a film of the time period. It has a story, graphic sex scenes, some hilarious lines and sequences, and a solid level of eroticism in order to ensure a worthwhile viewing.

The film stars Jennifer Jordan as Angela, in an exhaustive role and performance that requires more sex and legwork (no pun intended) than a day in the Red Light District. Angela is madly in love with her brother Peter (Eric Edwards), going as far as to have sex with him on a regular basis. When Peter decides to drop plans for a longstanding incestuous relationship and go to ministry school, he leaves his sister in a sexually unsatisfied tizzy, leaving her to explore her desires with complete strangers.

Angela becomes hellbent on having several explicit sexual encounters, even embracing an assault later on the film. The film concludes with one of the raunchiest sex orgies I have yet to see in a lengthy scene that is simultaneously hilarious as well as consistently surprising.

The pornographic aesthetic is here in full force, with scuzzy, seventies-videotape-level production values on display and frequent imperfections in Craven's camera. These choppy technology issues only add to an already nostalgic film, as it replicates a time period accurately, right down to its graphic sex scenes, which are simply basking in an era rather than shooting for the stars and trying for an effect they simply don't have the capacity to achieve. There's something about a sleazy, sometimes uncomfortable pornographic film that exercises so perfectly within its means that almost warrants a recommendation on-sight.

Finally, I must acknowledge whether or not Angela - The Fireworks Woman sparks any sort of arousing qualities and the answer is surprisingly "yes." Again, this goes back to the fact that the film doesn't try to be more than it is, and, similar to Debbie Does Dallas, does what it wants with what it has and on that merit succeeds. Even the storyline, as narrow and somewhat half-baked as it is, is at least intriguing and substantial enough to beat the plastic porn that exists today where the characters seem to just be itching to take their clothes off.

There's something to admire about Angela - The Fireworks Woman that will undoubtedly do justice for cinephiles and Craven fans. To the enthusiasts of the Golden Age of Pornography, just a head's up, here's one for the books you may have missed while rewatching Behind the Green Door and Deep Throat.

Starring: Jennifer Jordan and Eric Edwards. Directed by: Abe Snake.

A pair of childhood sweethearts (Jennifer Jordan and Eric Edwards) start to have a sexual relationship, but he leaves behind as he has vowed to become a priest while she explores her sexual freedom.

Wes Craven followed THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972) with some hardcore porn. Presented both as a free love adventure as well as porn for women it naturally, as hardcore porn, focuses on explicit sex. Unfortunately the film has been cut up and oddly edited with bizarre moments of comedy including a man slapping another man with a fish. But these different edited films make the film unintelligible in parts besides the hardcore scenes. Craven also appears in the film as a mysterious stranger who may well be the Devil and is credited under the pseudonym as Abe Snake.

The Fireworks Woman (1975)

*** (out of 4)

Angela (Jennifer Jordan) has a sexual crush on her brother Peter (Eric Edwards) but he's not interested in her advances for a number of reasons including the fact that he wants to become a Priest. He goes off to school when his sister Angela pretty much has a breakdown from missing him and finds herself getting into some dangerous sexual situations.

If you look up Wes Craven's filmmography you'll find this film sandwiched between THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and THE HILLS HAVE EYES. Craven had a hand in making several porno movies but this here is the only one where we know he is credited as the writer and director. Abe Snake was the fake name used by Craven but it would be impossible for him to deny this film because he also serves as an actor here. So, is this a good film? I would say that it is and it perfectly fits in with the "mainstream" porn idea of this era, which meant that a hardcore movie could take on an adult subject and handle it in a serious way.

If you've read interviews with Craven he often talks about his religious beliefs and the confusion he had at the point he was making THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. It's rather interesting watching this movie because there's a lot of discussion about religion as the two main characters have to ask their moral questions while at the same time breaching a taboo subject. The entire brother-sister thing is pretty much downplayed but the film certainly tackles the subject of what the church bans and the sexual confusion that can happen among people. Craven really builds a terrific atmosphere here especially as the Angela character begins to lose control and her mind begins to play tricks through her sexual fantasies.

While the film is erotic at times and the porn segments are well-shot, there's a rape sequence here that will be of interest to fans of the director. Considering the brutal rape scene in THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, the director manages to go even further and in some ways be more brutal. With an interesting shot of a penis being a weapon will have you flashing back to the controversial debut of Craven. There's quite a bit going on in THE FIREWORKS WOMAN and it's something fans of the director are going to want to see. It certainly doesn't hurt that Jordan gives a very good performance and helps pull off the character.

I'm a real fan of Wes Craven.

I stumbled across this film and decided to watch it anyway.

The first reviewer is right, it's a great example of porn when it could possibly appeal to women or thinking persons. I quit watching years ago when the art, romance, and fantasy went completely away. Please convince me to change my mind by providing examples of erotic films that don't just appeal to men. :)

It's nowhere nearly in the same class of Just Jaeckin's work from the same era. Not even CLOSE.

It is, however, very interesting to see how great directors can be distracted by money.

Aren't we all.