RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: VENUS IN FURS, 1969

VENUS IN FURS, 1969 (original title PAROXISMUS). Written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Jesus Franco, a master of noir, horror, and sexploitation films. A master of the pseudonym as well – Jesus Franco a.k.a., Clifford Brown, Jess Franco, Jack Griffin, Anton Martin Frank, and the list goes on… Starring James Darren (THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, 1961 and multiple television shows over the last several decades).

This paranormal noir flick takes its attitude straight from a Mickey Spillane dime store novel, complete with a dark, velvety, and cynical narration by James Darren. The story revolves around Jimmy Logan (Darren), a disenfranchised jazz trumpet player traveling the world plying his trade in seedy nightclubs. He“s a down and out musician trying to find relevance in the world. While at a stop in Istanbul he discovers the half naked dead body of a woman as she washes up on the beach. The creepy atmosphere of the film is kicked of by one great line of narration perfectly executed with a haunting tone by Darren, “She was beautiful, even though she was dead.”

But, is she truly dead? She being Wanda Reed played by Austrian beauty Maria Rohm (HOUSE OF 1,000 DOLLS, 1967 and COUNT DRACULA, 1970). Something disturbing happens when Jimmy pulls Wanda’s body out of the ocean. A strange connection seems to manifest. What’s familiar to Jimmy about Wanda? Does he know her? While Jimmy was playing a private gig at the mansion of rich socialites, he accidentally stumbles onto three sadistic wealthy sadists who are in the process of torturing Wanda during sexual game. Eventually, they kill her. Was that her Jimmy briefly saw that fateful night?

In death Wanda maybe beautiful, but her spirit is even more ravishing and deadly. Wanda comes back to the land of the living and charms Jimmy with an obsession of love. She even acts as a muse, motivating Jimmy musically. But, her restless soul has another agenda, it’s to take revenge on her sadistic murderers. By way of using her sexuality, Wanda is able to snare her perverted murderers in erotic traps. One by one, she lures her victims into a hypnotic state, enraptured by their sexual desires, and then sends them to the afterlife. When the mystery of Wanda is discovered she no longer needs to stay in the world of the living, she can set her soul to rest. But, there’s a big catch; she wants to take Jimmy with her.

The film is not typical in the way of the usual paranormal genre; it’s more of an erotic fueled psychological thriller. There is no need for blood and guts, or gratuitous sex; it’s more about the dreamy uncertainty of what we perceive as reality. With colorful backdrops like Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro (during Carnival), smoky nightclubs, and a dreamy jazz soundtrack, the film unfolds with a style and grace that keeps you glued to the screen. This fun ghost story keeps you guessing all the way to a surprise ending. If you like a good ghost story, check out this unique gem.