Jess Franco's "Venus In Furs" (1970) is a strange, trippy mood piece of a film that is a bit difficult for me to write about, for the simple reason that I'm not quite sure I totally understood it. On the surface, the picture seems to be about a jazz trumpeter played by James Darren, who finds the body of a beautiful blonde on an Istanbul beach. Months later, the same woman walks into a club in Rio where Darren is playing, seemingly back from the dead, and apparently seeking vengeance on the two men and one woman responsible for her killing. But then comes a twist ending that throws all the viewer's ideas of what might have been going on into the proverbial cocked hat.... But a clear-cut story line really isn't what this film's thrust is all about anyway. This picture is quite unlike anything I've ever seen; a totally sui generis experience. Franco's direction, the bizarre editing, the use of multicolored filters and smeared camera lenses, the oftentimes outre score by Manfred Mann, the lack of synchronized sound, and the dreamy acting styles all combine to make for one truly surreal ride. Indeed, Darren seems more spatially and temporally displaced here than he did in TV's "Time Tunnel," if that's possible! The film also boasts beautiful location shooting; fine support by Klaus Kinski, Dennis Price, Barbara McNair and, as the ghostly "Venus," the lovely Maria Rohm; and some exceptionally good jazz. Ultimately, though, the picture is a real head scratcher (a second viewing left me even more confused than the first!), and can justifiably be accused of having more style than substance. But man, what style! Oh...and a great-looking DVD has been provided from the good folks at Blue Underground, loaded with very fine extras, too.
Review of Venus in Furs
