Alexander-Ross

"Orgy of the Damned" is a refined and successful attempt recreating with sumptuous, Gothic style that retro (1960s/1970s/1980) European cult leading "genre" movies, with sometime rather inventive style and story telling. Here, there are terrific visual elements from gifted Italian cinematographer Mirco Sgarzi, and, the story by D. Arcangeli and Creep Creepersin is linear, but never trite, stylized and moving fast. We found suggestive the use of elements recalling some books of transgressing writer Brett Easton Ellis depicting with an hallucinated realism a doomed Hollywood weekend of a couple, who after clubbing in flashy S/M venues, ends up accepting (while also attempting to rekindle their seemingly tedious relationship) an invitation from 'Dimitri'(Chandler Maness) who seems well known to many. After a drink, or two, and what seems to be an allusive yet jaded conversation, the young couple is given the password to what is expected to be an exclusive hot after party on the dramatic Hollywood Hills, where only the most gorgeous, young, uninhibited crowd is invited to attend. After more drinking, and, having lost sight of the busy hunk Dimitri, the young elegant couple finally decide to break the ice, and to attend the adventurous proposal. By following the directions, and, with a secret code as a password to the unknown, they are taken to one of those Old Hollywood Goth mansions that looks almost intimidating in its magnitude, but that appears immediately to be a wild place where no barrels are hold, by the busy landscaping loaded with undressed extras waiting to enter by the main gate over the park, in order to be included in one Hell of an adventure to savor one more Hollywood's experience to remember. Once inside, the couple is quickly introduced by Dimitri, who immediately recognizes them, to the 2 proprietors of the Château, the languid, but, dark and tormented, brooding Fosco, and the savvier, more aggressive, out going Sabina: now, something "mysterious" and seemingly almost coming from the darkness of the beyond, immediately clicks among the 4, who are pleasantly surprised, but, also apparently immediately unsettled by it. Among a wilder and wilder shifting crowd composed by hot, gorgeous bodies, often in the nude, or often even having sex with or without the use of hard core "recreational drugs", Micah and his lovely young mate Fauna, become more and more loose and available to accept the edgy limits given to them by this world where apparently every moral has stopped, and conventions have been broken Centuries ago, by the 2 mysterious leads, the incredibly introspective and sensitive Fosco, and the more deceiving, drug user Sabina who seems often volatile, and definitely hiding constantly something more and more harrowing. I won't be giving away anything else of the thrilling, and, quickly unfolding plot that's following the fatal destinies of our protagonists, but i would like to point out how beautifully and luxurious both Art Direction, and high fashion's costume design were also photographed in very rich and saturated colors with an expertise that was also reminiscent of some of the most dense and outrageous atmospheres of an Anne Rice's vampires novel. While the scenario at times becomes even too gory, and disturbingly sexual for the prude or the faint of heart, we enjoyed instead this movie throughout , because it simply works mainly on 2 levels: you get the horrifying, Gothic, and highly suspenseful erotic situations promised by the marketing of the film, but you'd also be surprised by the incredible, almost touching depth of the character's development, that more often shines as a tale inspired by a modernized version of the 1782 Choderlos DE Laclos's novel "Dangerous Liaisons' as it starts its premise with a fascinating complex romance, and improves as it progresses, thus starts this tale of deceit and corruption through seduction, with the summons from the perverted Sabina to her confidante and former lover and son, Dimitri. The complex moral ambiguities of seduction and revenge make "Orgy of the Damned"probably one of the most scandalous and controversial movies ever made about vampires.. The subject of the major film, the script's prime movers, the dark and melancholic Fosco, and his clan, form an unholy alliance and turn seduction at first into a game - a game which they must win, just to defeat boredom. While this new tone gives the classic vampire's story a modern twist bringing to the plate many subtle argumentation, the viewers would be able to judge whether this movie is as "diabolical" and "infamous" as its critics might claim, or whether it has much to tell us about the kind of world we ourselves live in. I personally found a rich and increasingly surprising texture for a low budget genre movie, whose visuals often reminded me of the work of such European cult directors, such as, Mario Bava, Jean Rollin, Franco, and, Lucio Fulci: but its script is touching and ambiguous, like one of the most cruel of Ellis's prime novels (think "Less Than Zero" or "The Rules of the Attraction") where a bunch of desperate, drug taking, sexually 'uncertain' youth keep on pushing the envelope, manipulated by a society, that it is as dark and actually darker than some of their most shocking decisions. And, if at the end, there's a supernatural event changing, or perhaps, recreating the old Vampire's clan's rules, the situation from the very core of its tale, and the atmosphere comes across as completely re modernized and lethally dangerous as the type of literature the script obviously makes strong references to. And, this is also possible thanks to a very crisp, clear presentation of a story that is more classic than you'd think, and that also comes powerfully through with some excellent acting, especially from Domiziano Arcangeli, as the lead Fosco.

Extremely well crafted lower budget movie about all the beautiful people, sorry I should say all the gorgeous vampires, fighting humans and, then for love or luxury even themselves to the most dramatic and horrific consequences, in this retro style European Horror Exploitation film presented with just the right amount of everything, and, pretty unique today with its wild tones, and saturated colors framing few, but appealing sets with an eye backward towards certain Italian or French ( Margheriti, Franco, Bava, and Rollin come to mind ) directors who were prolific icons of the 1970s and 1980s. The story is deeply convoluted, but the dialogues are somewhat unusual and new, and well compliment the atmosphere, while all the steamy sex and gore galore are never deliberately vulgar, but tastefully shot, creating an ensemble that vaguely could at its best, remind of a modernized John Ford's tragedy. The cast is extremely appealing with a mix of great looking soft core stars, and quirky or just plain handsome cult actors and starlets you have for sure already seen in other horror or cult movies. The chemistry is great especially among the 2 leads torn by a burning and impossible love that hides secrets coming from the beyond! All the numerous others are all properly mysterious and rabid like in a real Gothic novel with a biting grip. While "Orgy of the Damned" could have been a little less erotic and more preoccupied to wrap up with character's development of its many subplots and secondary antagonists, one cannot deny that over all it ends up to make for a pleasant surprise especially considering the quite anonymous Horror scene we have to put up with today, and certainly won't disappoint those looking for a sexy film made with class and truly gorgeous actors all more or less well cast offering not only skin, but also fine, tongue 'n cheek performances. Enjoyable.

"La Notte Brava" (aka: The Big Night, although it means more something like actually 'The Brave' or 'The Wild Night') is an excellent film, that may be not very well known out of Europe, but it's still considered one of great director Mauro Bolognini's greatest efforts, and a film that generally stands successfully the test of time: Its script is exceptionally cohesive, sad and melancholic, daring and extremely sexually charged, and it comes from a short novel by unforgettable poet, writer and director Pier Paolo Pasolini who wrote the powerful screenplay with irony and passion, along with the French,and,at that time (1959) more experienced, Brost. It's almost impossible to believe this was produced and presented in 1959! It is so wildly modern, and the biting dialog, alienated, yet always seducing and ultimately even romantic atmosphere and situations (happening just during one Roman night facing the economic boom) are always brilliantly intriguing and breathlessly following up one another with great momentum. This is an astonishing ensemble piece, with refined cinematography by Armando Nannuzzi, exquisite costumes and looks by Marcel Escoffier who keeps away from fashion and stays on the character's development following the director's strict structure, sets by Carlo Egidi, and jazzy score by the awesome Piero Piccioni. The cast is so powerful, they all shine, even Mylene Demongeot in a 5 minutes segment manages to remind of Marilyn Monroe who could have also made that character as brilliantly sexy and mysteriously unnerving. The best and most attractive is Laurent Terzieff, Elsa Martinelli and Antonella Lualdi are so modern and gorgeous, while, if Brialy is at times a bit mannered, all others give unforgettable performances. Watch for a young and handsome Tomas Milian as the wealthy rebel without a cause hosting a "Dolce Vita" alike party over this wild night of brave and sad learnings. Great movie.