4K Ultra HD Review: SS EXPERIMENT LOVE CAMP (1976)

 

SS EXPERIMENT LOVE CAMP

Directed by:  Sergio Garrone

Distributed by:  88 Films / MVD Entertainment

 I am sure all my readers are aware of exploitation films, and even sexsploitation films, but not all of you might be aware of the exploitation sub-genre called Nazisploitation.  Nazisploitation films contain all the ploitations.....exploitation, sexsploitation, and of course...Nazis!  

 Nazisploitation started back in 1964 with the release of a film called LOVE CAMP 7, but is was 1974's ILSA, SHE WOLF OF THE SS that really gained popularity and started the Nazisploitation rage of the late 70's.   Nazisploitation films were all the rage, with such titles as SALON KITTY (1976), THE GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY (1977),  SS HELL CAMP  (1977), and SS GIRLS (1977) just to name a few.   All these films follow the basic same premise/plot....women are experimented on in many different ways, all to the enjoyment of the SS officers and guards.  They all end (usually) with the women taking over and getting revenge on the SS officers in some brutal way.    

 SS EXPERIMENT LOVE camp is not the best film of the bunch, but it's entertaining enough to justify adding to your Nazisploitation collection  (I assume we all have one of those, right?).   Here is the basic plot from the MVD website:

Possibly the most infamous entry into the Nazisploitation genre, Sergio Garrone's SS Experiment Camp is a harrowing and deliberately triggering experience which, even by today's standards is as powerful as it was when originally released in 1976. From its provocative, tabloid baiting original poster of a naked woman dangling crucified and naked, the movie pushed the boundaries as far as it could. Set during the tail-end of World War II we follow the deranged experiments performed on innocent prisoners of war by the utterly sadistic and evil Colonel von Kleiben in his attempt to create the perfect Aryan race. Shocking, notorious and endlessly exploitative, the movie continues to disgust audiences all over the globe nearly 50 years after its initial release.

 The film is pretty tame by today's standards to be honest.  They are lots of surgeries and mutilations, but most are pretty fake looking.   Most of the torture scenes are not too extreme.  One "torture" was placing a woman in a tub of water and then slowly decreasing the temperature until she is frozen alive.   This effect was actually pretty good, especially for the time. There is of course the lesbian lovemaking scenes that any "Women in Prison" or Nazisploitation film can't go without.   Also, this might be the only film in existence that shows a testicle transplant.  No need to go into details on that, I'll let you get the film and check that out for yourself! 

 I remember watching this film many years ago on DVD, and I remember how dark and grainy the film was.  I'm sure it was a cheap release and it looked like it.    The new release from 88 Films is presented in a brand new 4K remaster, and it looks amazing.   I love seeing older films like this being remastered and cleaned up, to the point where they don't look as old as they did on VHS or DVD. 

 SS EXPERIMENT LOVE CAMP is available now, and includes the following Special Features/Bonus Material:

• *  INCLUDES SLIPCASE WITH ART BY JOEL ROBINSON
• *  BOOKLET WITH NOTES FROM TIM MURRAY AND RACHAEL NISBET
• *  Brand New 4K remaster from the Original Negatives presented in Ultra High Definition (2160p) in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
• *  Presented in Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR10 Compatible)
• *  High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray in 1.66:1 Aspect Ratio also included
• *  English 2.0 LPCM Stereo with Optional SDH Subtitles
• *  Italian 2.0 LPCM Mono with newly translated English subtitles
• *  Audio Commentary by Italian Cinema Experts Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti
• *  Sadistically Yours, Sergio G. - An Interview with Director Sergio Garrone
• *  SSadist Sound - An Interview with Music Historian Pierpaolo De Sanctis
• *  The Alibiso Dynasty - An Interview with Editor Eugenio Alabiso
• *  Framing Exploitation - An Interview with Cinematographer Maurizio Centini
• *  Italian Opening and Closing titles
• *  Original Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD 

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON (1982)

 

VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON
Written & Directed by Bruno Mattei
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

 Just like the rise of the Cannibal films of the early 80's, another popular exploitation sub-genre was at it's peak....the women in prison films.   There are a multitude of titles, but one of the best is Bruno Mattei's VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON, also known by the other titles CAGED WOMEN and EMANUELLE IN PRISON.   If you are a fan of the EMANUELLE films, then you will realize why it has that alternate title and it fits perfectly into the BLACK EMANUELLE series of films.  Why the title changed to VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON is beyond me.   The amazingly beautiful Laura Gemser  once again stars as "Black Emanuelle" in this film that is a must see for fans of the EMANUELLE series.

  Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the Severin Films website:

  In an over-the-top career filled with cannibals, zombies, nuns and Nazis, only EuroSleaze maestro Bruno Mattei (THE OTHER HELL, SHOCKING DARK) – along with frequent collaborators/co-writers Claudio Fragasso and Rossella Drudi (TROLL 2, ZOMBIE 3 and 4)  – could take the BLACK EMANUELLE series to such insane depths of depravity: When Emanuelle (the legendary Laura Gemser) goes undercover in a penitentiary, she will endure a nightmare of sadistic guards, voracious lesbians, rat attacks, feces fights and enough graphic mayhem for a dozen women-in-prison trash epics. Gabriele Tinti (EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS), Lorraine De Selle (CANNIBAL FEROX) and Franca Stoppi (BEYOND THE DARKNESS) co-star in this “classic of exploitation” (Yell Magazine) – also known as CAGED WOMEN and EMANUELLE IN PRISON – now featuring a 2k scan from an uncensored inter-positive.

  If you have seen other "Women in Prison Films", also known by the inits WIP, you know exactly what to expect here.   WIP films are a mixture of soft-core eroticism, mixed with gore and torture of the inmates, usually ending with the inmates getting their revenge on the wicked warden and guards that administered the torture to them.   VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON pretty much follows that same pedigree, although there was not as much gore as in other WIP films.   The small amount of gore was good and effective though, especially when Emanuelle is thrown in solitary confinement which looks pretty much just like an old cave.  It is filled with nasty black rats that gnaw on her legs, body and face.  I couldn't help but wonder if actress Laura Gemser was actually scared of rats, because she looks absolutely terrified in this scene.   It looks like actual fright and panic on her face, and if it wasn't, then it was one of the best acting performances I have ever seen!

  If you are a fan of WIP films, you will definitely want to check this one out.  Severin films is putting out a wonderful new DVD and Blu-ray edition that will be available May 8th.   You can pre-order these now from the links below.   Special features include the following:

*  Brawl In Women’s Block: Interview With Co-Director/Co-Writer Claudio Fragasso and Co-Writer Rossella Drudi
*  Archive Interview With Director Bruno Mattei
*  Radio Spot

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray