tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post3676217590173736714..comments2024-01-28T19:45:11.660-08:00Comments on At the Mansion of Madness: Succubus / Necronomicon (1968)Giovanni Susinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253382939348997303noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-15419209298623808202015-04-28T13:40:29.656-07:002015-04-28T13:40:29.656-07:00I'm a sucker even for vague Lovecraftiness! An...I'm a sucker even for vague Lovecraftiness! And Franconess. Win/Win. R.S. Sterlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09342230029830159127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-30221769567035321312015-04-26T17:21:52.550-07:002015-04-26T17:21:52.550-07:00Succubus is an evocative parapsychological film, b...Succubus is an evocative parapsychological film, but, despite its alternate title and its origins, there’s not a whole lot that is really all that Lovecraftian about it. It’s still a very worthwhile film, especially if you are already an established Jess Franco fan. I’m certain you’ll like it, Rob.Giovanni Susinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03253382939348997303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-82771075106217960292015-04-25T17:12:24.709-07:002015-04-25T17:12:24.709-07:00One of the few Franco films I havent seen. But now...One of the few Franco films I havent seen. But now, after this and the mild Lovecraftish connection, I particularly want to check it out. Im kind of a sucker for Lovecraft in film. R.S. Sterlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09342230029830159127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-1525010622485247232015-04-20T20:47:06.057-07:002015-04-20T20:47:06.057-07:00Ebert's remarks on the movie are perfectly ill...Ebert's remarks on the movie are perfectly illustrative of why I had such a love/hate relationship with him that has tended to teeter over, in more recent years, into hate. When I was younger, I never missed Siskel & Ebert and there's no denying he was a major influence on me and on how I perceived film as an art in my formative years but at the end of the day he's more often than not just another fucking Kael-ite. This will sound a bit strange but it even makes me a bit angry he went and dropped dead on me before I ever had the chance to meet him and have it out with him over some of his bullshit.cinemarchaeologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-31261119478430658062015-04-20T20:40:09.493-07:002015-04-20T20:40:09.493-07:00My favorite use of an X-rating for marketing was d...My favorite use of an X-rating for marketing was definitely Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: "Rated X By An All-White Jury."cinemarchaeologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-82091099335209492022015-04-20T20:28:06.419-07:002015-04-20T20:28:06.419-07:00Succubus was one of the early Franco films for me ...Succubus was one of the early Franco films for me too. I just took a chance with it, and I’m glad I did. I easily fall for that blend of swanky-modern ‘60s/’70s with gothic drama/horror, and I think this movie had a lot to do with that. Plus I had never experienced a film of such a surreal nature. I felt like escaped into a dream when I first watched it.<br /><br />Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but everything about that review of Orgasmo you mention seems really unfair without any mention of what the movie achieves (except for breaking record grosses). Who would’ve imagined the kind of appreciation and following these kind of “worst movie of all time” Eurocult films would have so many decades later.<br />Giovanni Susinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03253382939348997303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-60341008285963037362015-04-20T20:24:27.317-07:002015-04-20T20:24:27.317-07:00That would have to make Succubus one of the earlie...That would have to make Succubus one of the earliest X-rated films, since the MPAA introduced the X-rating in 1968. The US poster really seemed to capitalize on that novelty, which I thought was a little like the Emmanuelle movie slogan: “X was never like this”. It must’ve been a blast standing in line trying to get into an X-rated film back then. Of course, it all seems so tame nowadays in comparison to what you can find on TV now.<br /> <br />I would have to agree. At the moment I honestly can’t think of a more beautiful film.<br />Giovanni Susinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03253382939348997303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-17313309864307464542015-04-20T02:37:05.574-07:002015-04-20T02:37:05.574-07:00This was the second Franco film I saw after Virgin...This was the second Franco film I saw after Virgin Among the Living Dead and it permanently sealed my love for Franco's work (which, I must admit, has become sort of an addiction lol). The only thing I knew going in was the nightclub act (I actually thought Americo Coimbra was going to be the main character). I did not expect the rest of the film to be so beautifully surreal and dreamlike. My favourite scene would have to be when Lorna (or should I say, the Countess) takes the trolley to the castle and we hear her internal nonsensical monologues. <br /><br />That moment where Janine Reynaud sits in front of the mirror is lovely that it's hard to believe Roger Ebert would go out of his way to call her ugly (half of his review of Orgasmo was just him trashing Succubus).<br /><br />The film is a bit pretentious but in a very sincere and amusing way. Franco really made the most of what he was provided and indulged heavily. The only scene I disliked was the bit where the woman gives 'advice' to Bill, it made me cringe. The part where Bill recites the Necronomicon story, on the other hand, was just awesome (I think Jack Taylor had a hand in translating the script which was in Spanish).Terencehttp://chickswithcandles.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316228451187611813.post-42004393202608171582015-04-20T00:10:38.642-07:002015-04-20T00:10:38.642-07:00One of the relatively few Franco films to receive ...One of the relatively few Franco films to receive a theatrical release in the U.S. (where it was rated X and did quite well), this is, as Fritz Lang reportedly called it, "a beautiful piece of cinema" (that's from memory but may be exact). Really the first Franco on which Franco let loose the full Franco. I'm terribly fond of it and would probably rhapsodize it at much greater length had I not just concluded such a spectacularly bad day.cinemarchaeologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.com