The Devil Came from Akasava

Rating:
Summary: Another Slice of Strangeness from Jess Franco
Review: THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA is another terrific piece of work from Jess Franco. I think that in many ways, this is one of his most ambitious and taught thrillers. It's Franco doing the spy game for us as only Franco can, with the lovely Soledad Miranda as a gorgeous agent and Franco himself playing a nebulous character that always seems to be on the periphery of the action. The action centers on a stone that turns other stones into gold. Naturally, several global parties are after this most precious of rocks. In between, we have many Jess Franco staples played out: the gorgeous performing woman ogled by a mesmerized crowd, the black humor surrounding a body in need of disposal and its long trek toward a final resting place, the shootouts and chases, the voyeuristic camera that makes love to the luscious starlet (in this case, Soledad Miranda in the shower, onstage, in bed, etc.). One final observation: THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA includes the kind of snazzy wild jazz soundtrack that is an integral part of Jess Franco's best films. This is a circa 1970 picture. If you're into offbeat European cinema from that era, here's a true winner from one of the maestros!

Rating:
Summary: Another Slice of Strangeness from Jess Franco
Review: THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA is another terrific piece of work from Jess Franco. I think that in many ways, this is one of his most ambitious and taught thrillers. It's Franco doing the spy game for us as only Franco can, with the lovely Soledad Miranda as a gorgeous agent and Franco himself playing a nebulous character that always seems to be on the periphery of the action. The action centers on a stone that turns other stones into gold. Naturally, several global parties are after this most precious of rocks. In between, we have many Jess Franco staples played out: the gorgeous performing woman ogled by a mesmerized crowd, the black humor surrounding a body in need of disposal and its long trek toward a final resting place, the shootouts and chases, the voyeuristic camera that makes love to the luscious starlet (in this case, Soledad Miranda in the shower, onstage, in bed, etc.). One final observation: THE DEVIL CAME FROM AKASAVA includes the kind of snazzy wild jazz soundtrack that is an integral part of Jess Franco's best films. This is a circa 1970 picture. If you're into offbeat European cinema from that era, here's a true winner from one of the maestros!