(1971/UK)
REVIEW BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-JOSE RAMON LARRAZ CAST-SIBYLA GREY, KARL LANCHBURY, LISBETH LUNDQUIST and MALCOLM TERRIS SOURCE-MIDNIGHT VIDEO (NTSC REGION 1 / DVD-R )
Spanish born director Jose Larraz forever edged his work on many of us through cult classic VAMPYRES, forging the many aspects that ran wild in the early 70's. Elements, like the occult, orgies and lesbianism. It’s no wonder he had to flee his homeland of Spain where the ruling government at the time outlawed such freedoms in film making. Sadly, many only view his film VAMPYRES and move on, never really giving much thought as to if he had any other works. Well, it is in my humble opinion, they are wrong. He has many great examples of the merging of such elements mentioned before and much more with the likes of such films as BLACK CANDLES, THE COMING OF SIN and DEVIATION. Yes, these are just the topping of many more films that he managed to make during the 70's, but it was after his 1977 film COMING OF SIN when the film maker’s career or film’s should I say started getting shotty at best. Though BLACK CANDLES did shine a ray of hope, but that was all.
DEVIATION is the start of many occult flavored horror films Larraz filmed throughout the 70's. In fact his first horror film and one that would simply gives us the right taste of what was to come. His very raw and surreal style and approach is something he managed to sustain throughout many of these films. Incorporating sex, horror and the occult in a way where it wasn’t exploited, but almost giving you a peep into a world many only read about and others never escape. Where one would feel welcomed and very much wanted, but all for the wrong reasons. Larraz explores an area of darkness, while during the 70's would totally shock and horrify many.
Not with gore or explicit torture, but with sheer realism. The character’s often wearing a shell of normality, but the inside just itching to ooze all over the screen, and of course it does. This isn’t the only attraction to DEVIATION, Larraz also brings a method he was deprived of using in Spain and like his characters, was just awaiting to unleash, exploitation. Many times and of course only hinted at in DEVIATION was lesbianism. Something not only did Larraz know would sell, but would eventually give him money for further work. All capped off with a scorching Stelvio Cirpiani score, one that has quickly become one of my favorites from this legendary Italian composer.
The story of DEVIATION is of a couple, driving in the countryside. Paul, an elder married man, and his much younger mistress, Olivia. While driving down an dark and very isolated country road, Paul suddenly hits something and runs into a tree. As quickly as the accident occurs, another pair Julian and his sister Rebecca appear from the country darkness to offer their help and home for the night. Upon arriving at the large home, it becomes much more clearer to Paul that he might have hit somebody with the car. Something he just can’t seem to shake, and eventually wanting to investigate.
Of course, never to return in due part to like’s of the mysterious couple. Who upon Olivia awakening, tells her that Paul and Julian had gone to the village to have the car towed and fixed. When Julian arrives without Paul, his story is that Paul simply left for home as to not to miss work. Of course leaving Olivia in a bit of a rage but soon forgotten as the couple introduce her to their secret sessions of drug, orgies and music. Avoiding warnings from the couple’s chained up mother to leave the house or die, Olivia becomes hooked, leaving her game for the intentions Julian and Rebecca have in store for her.
Now, this is yet another film that is extremely hard to find as it doesn’t have a legit DVD release quite yet. As far as I know there is a very rare circulation of it on VHS from the now defunct Canadian video outfit Marquee. So, my suggestion for the time being is to consider Midnight Video’s DVDR offering of this, in which I viewed and was rather impressed with. They tend to scope out for the best possible print out there and in most cases the uncut versions. Now, I’m not sure if the print that they used for this was in fact the Marquee VHS print of not, but though it a little rough at times, though nothing serious at all, in fact rather good for being uncut/rare and not being cleaned up for DVD. With the DVDR, there is also a rare trailer for Larraz’s BLACK CANDLES under the cheesy US title of HOT FANTASIES. DEVIATION is a must see for fans of both Spanish horror or Larraz in general even though it was filmed the UK.
STORY/FILM-3.5 /5 BITCH SLAPS
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