Blood Sucking Freaks (1976)
Written By: DMG
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Joel M. Reed
Producer: Alan C. Margolin
Screenwriter: Joel M. Reed
Date Released: November 3, 1976
Cast:
Seamus O’Brien – Sardu
Viju Krem – Natasha Di Natalie
Niles McMaster – Tom Maverick
Dan Fauci – Sergeant Tucci
Alan Dellay – Creasy Silo
Ernie Pysher – Doctor
Luis De Jesus – Ralphus
Rating = 1/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
A group of sick and twisted individuals conduct shows that exploit naked women and subject them to torture in a theatrical production to the public at a theatre called Sardu’s theatre of the Macabre. Sardu runs these shows and makes the audience question what they are seeing. The audience may believe what they are seeing is fake, but, the events that occur on stage are real.
Gore Factor
First and foremost, this film contains quite a bit of nudity throughout the film. In addition, various scenes depict naked women being tortured whereby a body part is being crushed or cut off. There are also scenes showing women crawling and simultaneously whipped. In another scene, a woman is naked and on her hands and knees holding up master Sardu’s dinner as he is eating. In another scene, a doctor drills in a girl’s head. He then inserts a straw into her head and slurps her blood drinking her blood.
This exploitation may be offensive so some. Understand that if you watch this film, every other scene involves a naked woman being tortured, sexually assaulted and then killed.
The Grave Review
The premise of the film focuses on incorporating masochism and sadism in the theatre also known as BDSM. Throughout the film, Sardu attempts to create art by combining domination and obedience with a storyline to display to his audience in the theatre. The idea of displaying real situations to the public without them being aware of the truth is an interesting concept. But a performance was only shown in the beginning of the film so this plot was not the focal point. In addition, there were other factors which overshadowed the plot and took away from it’s substantive value.
In order to appreciate this film, you have to view this with the idea that this is a film of sexual expression. Some may even consider this film a cult classic, but we do not. The idea of torturing women and showcasing that to the public is nothing more than someone’s wet dream. How far can a film go before it reaches the category of a snuff film? That is a question that may lay in someone’s own preference and our review could not answer that. But, hey, this was the 70s.
To add to my previous statements, every scene incorporated a naked woman or women. Even when the women were “clothed”, their boobs were hanging out. As much as I appreciate the premise, the nudity was overkill and nothing more “shock” value. But, I believe that everything should be in moderation or else it loses it’s effect.
Another disturbing aspect of the film is the fact that the master vampire is selling naked women and shipping them to the Middle East. Obviously, these women would suffocate in real life but the reality of selling women in the black market is real and a horrific reality. The concept as incorporated in the film s distasteful and off putting.
The performance of the actors and actresses were very subpar. The performance of the Luis De Jesus who played Ralphus was not well-done and frustrating to watch. In one scene, he is seen jumping up and down and the performance is just painful to watch. As to the master Sardu (Seamus O’Brien), his performance was a little better but not by much.
If you are someone who wants to spice up your sex-life in a “Marquis De Sade” way, this might be the home video you’ve been waiting for. If you’re looking for fun and entertaining horror, I wouldn’t recommend this film. From a cinematic perspective, the film offers little for the viewer other than nudity and exploitation.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Blood Sucking Freaks (1976) one Grave out of five Grave
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