Indonesia 1992
Reviewed By-Kit Gavin (Jan 2005) Directed by "John Miller" [H. Tjut Djalil] Starring Tonya Offer, Amy Weber, and Kristin Anin Released through: Mondo Macabro [United States] (2005) Region 0 NTSC
A trio of jewel thieves race through the streets of Jakarta by night, hotly pursued by the police. Punches are thrown, and many bullets fly, in this [unintentionally] comic introduction to the film, however having sustained numerous punches to the jaw by the cursing gang leader, the driver of the car veers out of control which throws the car literally spinning out of control into a graveyard, where the gang members are killed by the impact, which includes one losing an arm and a splash of syrupy blood hits the trees.
With all this blood let loose, together with a severed finger (which somehow comes to life and leaps into a compact) – the blood reanimated and resurrects the Evil Queen of Darkness [Amy Weber] a la Hellraiser, with her body reforming, leaving parts of it skeletal and incomplete (with the exception of her head and face). Needing more blood to complete her resurrection, a dog lurking the graveyard espies the Queen’s incompletely formed leg and decides to take a bite out of it. However the Queen, none too pleased at the passing pooch’s interest in making her limbs his dinner, promptly tears his head off and exsanguinates the carcass.
Meanwhile, in downtown Los Angeles, buxom blonde Suzy [Tonya Offer] is waiting for her boyfriend. Upon his arrival, and presenting her with a sparkling ring, he proceeds to get rough with Suzy. She doesn’t like it, so he gets rougher, beats her round the head and rapes on the table, beating her round the head and using his fists as foreplay. Suzy escapes, hits him with a shower pole and flees downtown and calls her sister Linda (reversing the charges) in Jakarta, asking if she can come there. Linda, a model, wires her the cash and tells her she and Bob, her local Indonesian boyfriend will look after her. However, no sooner has Suzy arrived in Jakarta when Linda has to fly off to Bali for a photo-shoot. She invites Suzy along but Suzy declines on account of the bruises which her boyfriend’s assault has left on her face.
Exploring Linda’s house she happens upon an old book of Sumatran incantations and practices which Linda had previously been given on her birthday as part of a birthday gift. Unexpectedly, the book flies open at a particular page, and Suzy begins to recite the spell found therein and by doing so resurrecting the Evil Queen, who happens to be in the cemetery across the street from where Linda lives. The Evil Queen appears in a mirror and talks to Suzy, promising her powers of power and eternal beauty if she brings her victims to feed off, to recreate her body from. Suzy agrees, and the Queen possesses her body, turning her into the eponymous dangerous seductress complete with a glowing tattoo on her breast.
Suzy, now serving the Evil Queen, raids Linda’s wardrobe for slinky seductive outfits which include short skirts and brightly colored lingerie. Having slipped into something suitably seductive Linda sets about prowling the streets of the capital for blood and male victims to serve her mistress. Not un-surprisingly Suzy’s charms are noticed and admired and she picks up a number of victims. First of all she finds two Brits, playing off against the other, before eventually leaving with one for his boat in the harbor, having been offered "Sex on the Beach". The other, understandably disappointed with being spurned pursues the couple, before Suzy using her new found skills causes his windscreen to seemingly wash-over with blood, before sending his car out of control and blowing it up. Seemingly unaware of what has happened to his friend, Suzy’s victim takes the seductress about the boat before attempting to seduce her in a pair of grey cotton briefs. Suzy, takes a fish hook and rakes it across his chest, and then laps up the blood. Undeterred by this rather savage act of foreplay, Suzy’s victim is still intent on having his way with Suzy. However Suzy, dressed in "something more comfortable" then attacks him with a harpoon gun, pinning his leg to the wall before killing him by stabbing him through the skull with the stiletto on her shoe (!) Afterwards she cuts her throat in front of the mirror in order to feed the Queen which the Queen immediately heals up, having absorbed the blood through the glass.
Not satisfied with just the one victim, the Evil Queen sends Suzy on the trail of further male victims to satiate her blood lust and to resurrect her fully. She lures a trio of local goons into a large warehouse/freezer, and surrounded by large joints of meat hanging from the rafters, she disposes of all three. Along the way, a cop gets wise to Suzy’s antics and ends up rather the worse for wear. Suzy picks up a local after seducing him over a game of pool and Suzy’s scumbag boyfriend turns up from Los Angeles, having tracked Suzy down, both of whom ending up as further victims for Suzy to feed the Evil Queen’s life force with. Meanwhile, on Bali, Linda is visited by one of the local shamans and suspects that something is terribly wrong back at home in Jakarta. She rushes back with her boyfriend Bob, only to find Suzy reciting from the book of spells.
Fortunately Linda’s premonitions and her visit from the wise man on Bali have proved correct and there is something seriously wrong. Also, Suzy has been instructed by the Evil Queen that in order for the spell to be complete Suzy must kill her sister as the final sacrifice. As well as Bob, one of Linda’s mystic friends turns up (who gave her the Book of Spells originally) and, decapitating a chicken, prepares to do battle with the Evil Queen…
Dangerous Seductress marks the third release of an Indonesian exploitation flick by the boys at Mondo Macabro, all directed by H. Tjut Dlalil. From the out and out bizarre Mystics in Bali, and the sleazy trashy sci-fi cash-in Lady Terminator, the film under review here will not disappoint, even though it is considerably more restrained in than Lady T. Despite a heavy Caucasian presence in the film, made up of Brits, Australians and Americans – which no doubt is to increase the films international marketability and prevent awkward post production dubbing, the film is Indonesian to the core. The film replaces nudity with kinky lingerie, which wouldn’t be out of place in one of Playboy’s glossy supplements, and the busty lead Tonya Offer has a Tinto Brass voluptuousness about her, coupled with late 80’s sex appeal which would very much have appealed to the audience of the time, even now. There is some nudity, but this release is taken from an Indonesian print which has covered the nipples (adding in fact an unworldly charm to proceedings rather than adding some unnecessary T&A) of the Evil Queen making them glow.
Undeniably cheesy, but fun cheesy, the film treads the boards of a variety of genres, from camp comedy (mostly unintentional?), horror, and action. The Indonesians seem to have a passion for car chases, large explosions and BIG guns. All of this is taken care of in the opening sequence of the car chase leading to the events whereby Suzy raises and sets about her mission of seduction for the evil queen. At some points in the film there is much unnecessary padding, including the overlong pool game, dire disco dancing, and some travelogue footage, but this padding actually doesn’t detract from the pace of the film and keeps it at relatively calm pace rather than being an out and out rushed wham bam action film. The acting is mostly stilted and amateur by the glamorous and nicely stacked three female leads, and there is lots of reliance on bright lights and splattery bloody effects thrown in, together with logic thrown out the window at times, which purists of cinema might look down their noses at. Djalil’s direction as well might be seen to be somewhat "by numbers". But the film is first and foremost silly, a great popcorn movie, entertaining and great fun. It is not a film to be taken seriously, in any way shape or form, but as entertainment it pushes all the right buttons and is an enjoyable ride from start to finish…
Given that the film is only 13 years old it looks in great condition. The soundtrack may be a little flat times, but no doubt was how it was recorded at the time, and the inclusion of a 5:1 stereo mix would be completely pointless. The picture quality is really good quality, bright and vibrant with only a teeny bit of print damage surfacing during the film which last for a blink and you’ll miss it moment. Some might complain that the film has been released in a censored format (with nipples, etc) being discretely covered over, but this really doesn’t matter and adds a humorous and cultural sensibility to the proceedings on screen. The film is anamorphic and given that the film is low budget, no doubt the very best was done to the materials for this release.
Extras include a 14 minute conversation with the director (voiced over in English by a serious sounding Pete Tombs), interspersed with clips from the three titles that MM have released thus far. Like many low budget directors such as Bruno Mattei, Djalil dismisses his output of films he has made over the years, saying that he doesn’t like any of the films which he has made. Granted none of his films were ever likely to scoop up any major awards overseas, from the three films that have been released so far, his films have a gleeful and unique sense of fun about them, lauded by his fans, but might easily be dismissed by some as being Z grade garbage, with bad acting and hokey special effects.
Also included is an interview with Hollywood Special FX artist Steve Prouty, recorded in his studio, interviewed and shot by Mondo Digital’s Nathanial Thompson and produced by Bruce Holecheck (a familiar name on cult movie web boards). The interview is entertaining and informing, and shows a relaxed Prouty, surrounded by some of his creations. Shot in natural light, as opposed to the use of filters and comfy chairs favoured by Blue Underground, the interview is an enjoyable addition. Prouty also gives an audio commentary on the "regeneration sequence" telling how the effects were accomplished, and some disturbing behind the scenes anecdotes, including how the Indonesian crew apparently wanted to decapitate a real dog, but fortunately he talked them out of it. Text extras which are also included are a Djalil filmography (thankfully not cribbed from the IMDb), and an informative, readable essay by Pete Tombs about Indonesian Exploitation. Rounding off the extras is a nicely edited promo reel of Mondo Macabro titles, including a forthcoming release of SLAVE GIRLS OF MORGAN LA FEY.
In conclusion, somehow Mondo Macabro have got the Midas touch for releasing another little piece of obscure cinema and creating a totally enjoyable DVD. Continuing to release unusual titles, each imbued with a unique charm, from Pakistani vampire movies, Italian gialli, the superb Crazy Love from Belgium, to this, an Indonesian action film (!!), Mondo Macabro has rapidly become one of my favourite cult movie DVD labels. Viva Mondo Macabro I say!!
Audio: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Video: 4 BITCH SLAPS Extras: 4 BITCH SLAPS Story: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS To Purchase this DVD visit X-Ploited Cinema
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