Title: The Devil's Honey (AKA, Il Miele del Diavolo, Dangerous Obsession) Director: Lucio Fulci Writers: Jaime Jesús Balcázar, Lucio Fulci, Ludovica Marineo Cast: Brett Halsey, Corinne Cléry, Blanca Marsillach, Stefano Madia, Paula Molino, Bernard Seray Min: 78 Year: 1986
Johnny (Stefano Madia) is a saxophone player on his way up. He has an obsessively kinky relationship with his gorgeous girlfriend Jessica (Blanca Marsillach). Early on the film we see him using his sax as a sexual stimulant, when he put up to her snatch while playing it. Very innovative, if I do say so myself! During one romp he fingers her on his motorcycle while he is driving. Unfortunately, they end up crashing, and he hits his head on a rock. He swears he is fine, though, even though that clearly hurt like a fucking bitch.
While, this is happening we meet Dr. Wendell Simpson (Brett Halsey) who is cheating on his classy wife, Carol (Corinne Cléry). She catches him having had sex with a hot hooker. She eventually confronts him, and they have an argument. She lets him know that she wants a divorce.
Johnny, in the meantime, passes out from the injury caused by the accident and is rushed to a hospital. The doctor that is set to operate on him is, low and behold, Dr. Simpson(!), who is distraught from his wife dumping his cheating ass. He fails to make any decisions during Johnny's emergency surgery, resulting in his death. Jessica rightfully blames the not so good doc, for her man croaking. She kidnaps the doctor and keeps him chained up. Between sexual gratification and humiliation and bodily violence on him, she sets out to have her revenge. Even though Johnny himself was far, far from the ideal boyfriend...
The Devil's Honey is a rarely seen movie directed and co-written by horror and gore master Lucio Fulci. Although, it is very far from his usual movies filled with splatter and zombies, his entry into the erotic thriller ranks among his finer works. It may lack the graphic violence that he is known for, but it is righteously raunchy in its own matter. Long unavailable in the US, especially uncut, The Devil's Honey was bought to us stateside, thanks to the fine folks at Severin Films in a solid Blu-ray release this year.
Unlike many supposedly erotic movies, especially those made state-side, this one delivers the bonerific goods. Aside from aforementioned sax and motorcycle fun, there is a hooker who paints her see-through stalkings with nail polish, right on her bush, as well as rampant nudity, including lots of glorious bush, bondage and domination with a heavy emphasis on sexual humiliation, and of course, lots of softcore sex. Of course, the women are all breathtakingly beautiful, as they tend to be in Italian genre cinema.
Not the typical Fulci movie, by any stretch of the phrase, but he goes for it with with full sleaze force. As, I said, the film is unquestionably sexy. I can say as this as a jaded viewer where it takes a lot for me too actually be turned on. Some stuff even managed to shock, especially in reference to the flashbacks to Johnny and Jessica's relationship.
The acting ranges from good to decent, and honestly any time it may not be up to snuff ,it's probably more of a result of the dubbing. Be sure to keep a look out for Fulci, himself, in a cameo, as a dude who sells our main couple some charmed bracelets.
The movie's pacing falters a little in the film's second act, only come back full force with the kinky torture filled third. A good ending that will leave you deciding what actually happens next, seals the deal on this torrid, naughty little movie.
The Devil's Honey is a sexy, raunchy, and, at times, shocking erotic thriller. As anything from the master Lucio Fulci, it pushes boundaries and is best not seen by prudes. The film remains a captivating and erotic feast, throughout, even if the middle part slows down a bit. With pretty good acting and strong directing from Fulci, it is impossible to not recommend this one, especially with the Severin Blu-ray, finally letting us see it, uncut, no less! Sleaze and Fulci lovers (some of which are probably one and the same!), take heed and see it now!
Title: The Best of Sex and Violence Director: Ken Dixon Writer: Frank Ray Perilli Cast: John Carradine, Laura Jane Leary, Angela Aames, Davis Carradine, Keith Carradine, Year: 1982 Min: 76 DVD Released by: Full Moon
This early 80s compilation from producer Charles Band has horror legend John Carradine host a bunch of exploitation trailers. The movies featured all have sex, violence, or both, of course!
John Carradine makes for a likable and funny host. The dialogue written for him by Frank (Mansion of the Doomed) Ray Perilli is witty and funny. It is also, much like the movies featured here, decidedly not very PC, which is perfectly fine by me. There is a tongue and cheek quality here that makes it all very fun. One wonders what Carradine was thinking hosting this admit ably sleazy collection of clips, especially considering he didn't seem very fond of being linked to horror (see the interview on the extra features of The House of Seven Corpses for proof). This probably just amounted to a paycheck for him and that's all.
The movies included in here run the gamut of biker, blaxplotation, softcore, sex comedies, action, women in chains, and horror movies. They include such titles as: I Spit on Your Grave, Alice in Wonderland, Tanya's Island (which, by the way, tells the of the love triangle between a hot chick played by the late, great Prince protege Vanity, a dude, and a large, hairy ape beast...), The Boogeyman, The Disco Godfather, Emaunelle Around the World, Bury Me an Angel, Terminal Island, and more.
The cover features a young Brinke Stevens, who would go on to become a legendary scream queen. While, the cover image promises that Night of the Living Dead is here; it ain't. Maybe it got it confused with The Twilight People (below)?
Band seemingly found a very old, shitty VHS tape and just transferred that to DVD, as the quality here is godawful. There is NO remastering whatsoever. In fact, I used to own some VHS tapes that looked better than this. The sound is barely adequate and even that might be a case of me being too nice. The only extras are a Charles Band Grindhouse Intro and a Grindhouse Featurette, all of which can be found in any of the other Full Moon Grindhouse Collection releases.
Still, despite the shit quality, this is fun and enjoyable. It's a blast to see Carradine present such sleaziod flicks and deliver fun one-liners. The cameo at the end by his sons, David and Keith (left), add to the pricelessness of it all. If you are a fellow fan of sleazy B-movies and trailer collections, and can find this cheap, get it!
Movie: 3 out of 4 Picture: 1 Sound: 1.5 Extras: .5
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