Vampire Ecstasy/Sin You Sinners

Writer-director Joseph W. Sarno (1921-2010), a pioneer in the sexploitation genre, gained attention in 1964 with Sin in the Suburbs (which focused on sexually promiscuous housewives) and has more recently won a considerable cult following. The second film in this double-feature set, Sin You Sinners (1963), is actually credited to director Anthony Farrar, but Sarno apparently took over in mid-shoot. The transfer is from the sole surviving print, and while it suffers from almost constant streaking and some crude edits, the loss is not that great: the plot, centering on an aging exotic dancer (June Colbourne) who uses a magical amulet to control those around her—including audiences—is nonsensical, while the threadbare production values are of Ed Wood quality, with risible dialogue and atrocious acting. Sarno wrote and directed the 1973 Vampire Ecstasy (aka Veil of Blood and The Devil's Plaything), which is a substantial effort, although still obviously low-budget. Once again melding supernatural elements with plenty of sexual titillation, the story centers on efforts by a grim housekeeper at Castle Varga to bring a vampire countess back from the dead, using a trio of voluptuous Varga heiresses as tools. The plan—involving many nighttime orgies that feature lots of female nudity—is interrupted by the arrival of a brother-and-sister team of vampire-hunters who become embroiled in the proceedings. The storytelling is not particularly coherent, but Sarno does effectively invest the film with a lurid atmosphere that is accentuated by a garish color palette. Extras include an audio commentary, interviews, and a booklet. Optional. (F. Swietek)