WWWoyager Reviews

Venom (1966)

Denmark exposed!

[16 May 2007]

This film offers one of the most truthful portrayals of the mixed-up Danish attitude to sex and pornography. It was made in the sixties, which was the last gasp of Denmark as a nation of open-minded people. Hence, the film refuses to judge, and instead throws a shower of thought-provoking questions at the viewer, with young people voicing open-minded and progressive ideas while the parents react with shock and violence. Back then it looked as if the new generation would change the world for the better, and certainly it managed to overthrow some oppressive censorship laws, but alas, anyone living in Denmark today is well familiar with this country's present puritanical right-wing politics. The generation conflict in "Gift" parallels the conflict between how Danes are still perceived and how they really are. No wonder if Danes don't like watching this film. It's way too close to home.

Baise-moi (2000)

The passionately violent, explicitly fornicating and ultimately tragic tale of two French prostitutes.

[5 July 2000]

A well-acted, deeply emotional experience that avoids sexual stereotypes aggressively while jumping genre conventions at breakneck speed. Pulls no punches in portraying the underbelly of modern urban existence by combining raw violence, hardcore sex and a strongfelt psychological drama. Probably the most successful attempt so far at fitting hardcore images into what would otherwise be described as independent mainstream cinema. A "Thelma & Louise" for the Generation XXX.

Eruption (1997)

Dante's Peak meets Under Fire.

[17 November 1998]

American journalist, latino revolutionaries, evil dictator, screaming extras and endlessly recycled volcano stock-footage. Okay for what it is: Producer Roger Corman up to his old tricks, rethreading big budget movie fads on a shoestring budget.

Pervirella (1997)

Cheaporella!

[16 November 1998]

British sex-humour hasn't progressed much since the seventies. It's still dirty old men behaving foolishly around a parade of young cleavage. "Pervirella" is basically a home-movie with no-budget production values masquerading as camp. The video cover art is great, as is the title, but beware!