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She Killed in Ecstasy

She Killed in Ecstasy

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jess Franco Is the Master Of Bizarre & Erotic Films
Review: All I have to say, is that this is a great film. It's really very similar to Vampyros Lesbos, and one of Franco's earlier films The Diabolical Dr.Z, Dr.Z is what She killed In Ectasy reminded me of when I watched it. She Killed, also had some of the cast as Vampyros Lesbos had. Soledad Miranda is one of the most beautiful and erotic women I ever seen, If you loved her in Vampyros Lesbos you'll love even more in this film. This is one of the best DVD finds next next Vampyros Lesbos, and I'm really happy that it's in my collection.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: She'll 'Kill' You.....
Review: For Jess Franco's second outing with the beautiful Soledad Miranda, we find ourselves in familiar territory; the beauty that was Europe in the early 70s, fab music with a score that has yet to be topped, and gratuitous nudity and scantilly-clad shots of our star, Soledad.

Now, the film itself is NOT Vampyros Lesbos. Not even close. It's plot is intriguing, as it's difficult not to be intrigued by [her] face. Filled with tons of close-ups and classic post-60s camera angles, zooms and pans, this film definitely has the elements of a "Part II" without even having similar themes. The remastered sound is terrific (the MONO mix in no way deters from the glory of the soundtrack and dialogue) and the picture, though quite sharp and colorful, has many 'scratches' (mainly vertical lines) running through quite a few scenes. There are also a great deal of audible "POPS" between scene changes, conveniently placed at the index-chapter points (why they couldn't have fixed these, I don't know).

As the film comes to a close, we're given a rather abrupt finish, with no credits or even a prolonged black screen. You return immediately to the Menu, which, in contrast to the rather sad and message-filled ending was kind of a let down...Let me have some black screen so I can take in the ending...something!

Nonetheless, if you're a Jess Franco fan, you'll dig this flick. Regardless of it's [technical] flaws, you can't beat having it on DVD, and having Soledad's memory preserved forever in 24-bit digital!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Soledad makes it worth it
Review: I saw this film after watching "Vampyros Lesbos" and I must say this one lacks the quaintness and lightness of "Lesbos". This movie is more violent and lurid. In terms of plot, it's the standard " I will avenge the death of my spouse" that has been done better in other films. Luckily it contains another amazing, sexy performance from Soledad Miranda. And she alone makes this movie worth it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: One of the absolute worst!
Review: I understand that this film is an example of the late sixties and early seventies porno/horror genre, and all that entails; but despite all its necrophilia and mild gore (if you like seening middle aged Catholic hyppocrites killed nude) you might find this entertaining. The only thing worth looking at is the leading lady, and even that gets boring. If you were to be totally stoned or drunk, it might to amusing to create your own laugh track.

I'm a big fan of Euro-horror (Argento, Fulci, etc.) and I know Franco isn't trying to do the same thing, but this is one of the absolutly worst films I have ever seen--bar none, and I've seen thousands.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: You people have got to be kidding.
Review: I'm thinking the only appeal this thing has is the result of those having viewed the "shocking" material as an adolescent and are nostalgiac for that moment. If it's kitschy humour, well then... I admit that while that is not my favorite thing anyway, I found it to be too poor to be funny (except maybe for the soundtrack). I can't believe the cinematic and acting kudos being thrown about. In all fairness to the rest of you, though, this was an experimental look at a "genre" for me - I shan't go there again.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: You people have got to be kidding.
Review: I'm thinking the only appeal this thing has is the result of those having viewed the "shocking" material as an adolescent and are nostalgiac for that moment. If it's kitschy humour, well then... I admit that while that is not my favorite thing anyway, I found it to be too poor to be funny (except maybe for the soundtrack). I can't believe the cinematic and acting kudos being thrown about. In all fairness to the rest of you, though, this was an experimental look at a "genre" for me - I shan't go there again.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Soledad Miranda: Erotic Spider.
Review: It's truly sad that Soledad Miranda died so young. She and Jess Franco made a most fascinating pair. Of the Franco/Miranda pairings I find SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY to be the least satisfying. Miranda seduces and kills the men and women that drove her husband to madness and suicide. Obviously, Miranda looks great, is often fully nude, and plays her part well. Like a spider she weaves an intricate web and kills those that she has caught (Franco, being one of the victims). Another Franco regular, the woefully underrated Ewa Stroemberg, plays one the women that Miranda murders. I'd rank this scene as the best in the film. The two actresses bring an erotic energy to the screen which is truly rare in cinema (see Vampyros Lesbos for further study). I cannot rank this as one of Franco's best as so many francophiles have. After the forty minute mark SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY loses gas. Those with a keen eye and some Franco history will notice that Miranda's house is the same used in Franco's EROTISMO. The DVD looks as good as can be expected for a rare film of limited interest (it's a shame that films like URBAN LEGENDS get better treatment). The print is marred with slight damage, especially at the reel changes. Unlike Synapse's superior DVD presentation of EXORCISM there is little to be found in he way of extras other than a trailer. All said, it pleases me that any company has taken the time to release a rare Franco film (there are so many more to go). Hopefully, Franco and Miranda's EUGENIA will find its way to the DVD format.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: soledad never disappoints
Review: Open a bottle of wine, and enjoy. If you are expecting Vampyros revisited you wont find it here, in fact the scenes of Soledad in ecstasy are far too brief. But the strange vibes flow and if you like the bizzarre, you will enjoy this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Low Blood - High Charged Euro Slasher
Review: Soledad Miranda puts on an electric proformance in this minimalistic Euro Art Slasher. Great soft porn. But as far as the slasher generia goes very low gore value. Unlike many Jesus Franco movies the plot is very straight forward. There is little to guess about. Miranda's husband is hounded to death. she seduces and kills his four chief detracters. No complications, no layiering of meaning or symbol. Absolutely great if you want to see Miranda proform or see a few grissly murders.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Alas, Soledad Miranda....
Review: Soledad Miranda, billed as Susann Korda, once again captivates and arouses as the femme fatale in "She Killed in Ecstasy". The weird SF gold metal bra she's wearing in the flashbacks with her doctor husband alone is worth the rental. That, plus the scene depicted on the DVD cover in which she contemplates all the horrible things she's done to avenge her husband's death and dishonor--she effortlessly conveys her ecstatic madness.

Soledad easily seduces those men and women responsible and kills them in ridiculous ways. The victim's blood looks like chocolate syrup but she's got pure murderous lust in her obsidian eyes. Not for nothing is Tim Lucas' short bio of her called "The Black Stare of Soledad Miranda."

The soundtrack, as in "Vampyros Lesbos," is super, if often seeming out of place. Several times, however, it achieves a melancholy grace, as when she grieves, naked, over the body of her husband. Beautiful and heartbreaking. This is a cool little flick if you like Eurotrash cinema with small moments of brilliance. Really, Soledad Miranda died much too soon-- what a star she could have been


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