Admittedly I set the bar pretty low when I go into a Jess Franco film. Typically his films seem to be produced in the most cynical manner possible, getting any and every washed-up actor available to shoot as few scenes as possible and then to find some way of padding out the running time to make it feature length.
Despite its goofy direction, strange out-of-place intentional comedy, inane dialog, poor and repetitive music, and cheap production design, this film actually has a lot going for it. For one, the cast is pretty good with a decent later-career performance from a drug-addled Helmut Berger, coupled with an earnest P.I. role from Chris Mitchum, Brigitte Lahaie trying her best not to look like a porn star, and Caroline Munro doing her best with a curiously confused, tertiary role. Anton Diffring even pops by to play another of his trademark cold-hearted Nazi / crazed doctor characters. Also look fast for Franco regulars Howard Vernon and Lina Romay in a throwaway scene.
Shockingly, the sleaze & gore maintains a good pace and gradually escalates as you'd expect it to in a competent horror film. The film very rarely drags and is really mostly weighed down by the nightclub and people-driving-around-looking-at-things filler scenes. Franco really just can't resist the urge to waste the audience's time. However, overall this film must surely rank with JACK THE RIPPER among his best works (however meaningless of a compliment that may be).
Despite its goofy direction, strange out-of-place intentional comedy, inane dialog, poor and repetitive music, and cheap production design, this film actually has a lot going for it. For one, the cast is pretty good with a decent later-career performance from a drug-addled Helmut Berger, coupled with an earnest P.I. role from Chris Mitchum, Brigitte Lahaie trying her best not to look like a porn star, and Caroline Munro doing her best with a curiously confused, tertiary role. Anton Diffring even pops by to play another of his trademark cold-hearted Nazi / crazed doctor characters. Also look fast for Franco regulars Howard Vernon and Lina Romay in a throwaway scene.
Shockingly, the sleaze & gore maintains a good pace and gradually escalates as you'd expect it to in a competent horror film. The film very rarely drags and is really mostly weighed down by the nightclub and people-driving-around-looking-at-things filler scenes. Franco really just can't resist the urge to waste the audience's time. However, overall this film must surely rank with JACK THE RIPPER among his best works (however meaningless of a compliment that may be).