Bloodtype Online
For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
Immoral Women (1979)
Considered a follow up to director Walerian Borowczyk’s 1974 film “Immoral Tales”, “Immoral Women” is a very unique film. It’s an anthology of the sexploitation form, which was a first for me and somewhat a surprising way of presenting a film. There are three stories in the film all very different in nature but all having to do with, well what you would expect, immoral women. The film also has a reputation because of it’s original poster artwork, that features provocative shots of a women with a rabbit between her legs (which is in reference to the second story in the film). The folks at Severin Films have brought this one out on DVD in stunning fashion as the film looks great features a original theatrical trailer as well as a bio for director Walerian Borowczyk.
“Immoral Women” starts out with a story set in Rome during the renaissance. It features the gorgeous Marina Pierro as the object of plenty of different men’s affection. She gets down with several painters and benefactors of the church as well as a few others. But of course her motives are revealed throughout this painstakingly long section of the film. Although it was shot beautifully and made with some serious craftsmanship, the episode was rather plodding and boring. Out of the three stories present here this is not only the least sleazy, but I would also consider it the one that has the least going for it.
The second story in the film is the one that is shown on the controversial cover art of the movie itself. Gaelle Legrand plays a teenage girl in this piece set in nineteenth century France that shows a quite a bit of affection for her pet rabbit. Her family not only treats her like a total child but there are attention issues that loom on the surface during the whole story. But as this episode goes on the actions get increasingly more shocking making it one of the most well made pieces of sexploitation I’ve ever seen. It’s truly disturbing, humorous, and just all around disorienting although I do mean that in a good way.
The third and final story is much different from the other two, mainly because of the time it’s set in. While the other two stories took place before any of us were alive the last story moves things into more modern times. A young married women gets kidnapped on a busy street by a guy hidden in a fucking cardboard box Seriously, I’m not kidding and if you are wondering it’s as ludicrous as it sounds. But there’s one thing I have to say that not only had I not seen that before anywhere outside of maybe a Looney Tunes cartoon, but I was laughing my ass off From there they move into a nearby van where the criminal starts the beginning stages of his plan. But this one has to be seen to believe as only the woman’s husband and faithful dog can save her. The end of this one is guaranteed to shock, as it’s so off the charts that I don’t think anyone will believe what they are seeing. It’s certainly an original piece and is one of the funniest damn things I’ve ever seen in a movie before.
Overall I would recommend “Immoral Women” to sexploitation fans out there. Although there is very little outside of the nudity that I found redeeming in the first story, the other two not only hold their weight, but they make the movie altogether better. This one would certainly be worth a rental, but if you are a collector of all things sexploitation this one might be right up your alley.
Rating - ***
-Ed Demko
