Plot: What’s it about?
Boris Zaroff (Michel Lemoine) seems to be a normal man, given his calm presence and work as a businessman. But in his dreams and in his family’s past, a deep darkness is present that haunts Zaroff to no end. When he falls asleep, his dreams are violent and sadistic, always the same depraved situation. He is at his countryside estate, but instead of relaxation, he finds sport to be his choice of activities. Not the usual sports however, instead he dreams of chasing young women, naked young women. When he is able to catch these women, he winds up killing them and just for the sheer thrill involved. This sounds sick to most people, but it is something Boris is used to, as his notorious father engaged in such vicious hunts. Boris hasn’t followed in his father’s footsteps, even though his dreams have pulled him closer to doing so. When a young woman approaches him and expresses an interest in his family’s castle however, the chance seems too good to pass, even for Boris. She is not only aware of the dark past of his father, but she insists on seeing the nefarious torture chamber. Will this turn of events, will Boris be able to suppress his urges, or will the beast within finally be unleashed?
If you like the concept of The Most Dangerous Game, in which an insane man hunts down other humans, then you’re safe in this picture. But Seven Women for Satan removes the social commentary of that material and replaces it with immense doses of naked women. This French production might not have the same level of tension and atmosphere as its source, but it does have some merits of its own. In this rendition, we have some of the most bizarre set pieces and situations, which keeps the atmosphere off balance and unpredictable. I suppose you have to like this kind of offbeat style, but director Michel Lemoine has infused Seven Women for Satan with a lot of unique touches that add a lot to the experience. After all, with a title like Seven Women for Satan, you have to expect an off the wall kind of session. The film isn’t as soaked in blood as some might like, but it has some red stuff and scenes of decent violence. I think the film is slanted more toward naked flesh however, as it is on showcase often here. But we don’t mind an overdose of breasts, so with the strange atmosphere and assortment of nude ladies, this movie packs a solid entertainment punch. You won’t rave over the performances, but the acting is good enough to be passable. In the end, I found Seven Woman for Satan to be a wild, very fun film and since Mondo Macabro’s treatment is quite good, I am able to give this release a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
Seven Women for Satan is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen. The opening sequence had me worried, but once the credits passed, so did most of my concerns. The credits have a lot of debris and scratches, but for the duration of the film, the print remains quite clean and should delight fans. You’ll still see some nicks, marks, and grain, but in this case, the print looks better than we could have imagined. The flaws are never serious, just minor hiccups that never distract the viewers or dilute the visuals. The colors have faded a little, but remain bright and in a natural scope, while flesh tones look warm and normal also. I found contrast to be a little off at times, but usually on the mark and consistent. If you’ve seen the horrific treatments that came before this one, then you will fall in love with this terrific presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original French language soundtrack is preserved here, which is a welcome inclusion, to say the very least. As you’d expect from an older, obscure movie’s audio, the elements have a lack of dynamic presence. But come on, in this movie you don’t need much power to slide by, so it all works out. The sound effects don’t have much punch, but enough to be effective and time hasn’t worn the material too much. The dialogue is clean and never seems harsh, while the music has a solid presence as well. And the music needed to sound good, as this film has such a wild, cool musical soundtrack. This disc also includes an English language soundtrack, as well as optional English subtitles, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes an interview with director Michel Lemoine, some talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
