Director: Sergio Garrone
Script: Vincio Marnucci, Sergio Garrone
Cast: Marcia Carven, Paola Corazzi, Giogio Cerioni, Giovanna Mainardi, Serafino Profumo,Attilio Dottesio, Patrzia Melega
Running time: 95 minutes
Year: 1976
Certificate: 18
One of the more infamous so called ‘Video Nasties’, from the early 1980’s culture wars debacle, SS Experiment Camp, as it was listed back then, is a film that I’d previously only seen on VHS, not really expecting to see it ever get a proper ‘all bells and whistles’ release. Well, we’ve had to wait a long time for one, but here it is, as a 4K Ultra HD version, no less, from the ever eager-to-please 88Films. Sadly, I haven’t been able to enjoy the Ultra HD version, since I don’t have a player yet, but if the standard Blu-ray version is anything to go by fans of the film – and there are some out there – are in for a treat.
The picture and sound quality are both excellent, which is both a good and bad thing, as for many it might be nice to see high definition pubic hair, but it’s not so great for effects shots, with most of the blood looking more like the strawberry syrup that you get on ice cream cones, and the poor dubbing is now looking worse than ever. But such failings help one to enjoy this for what it is, a daft – as a bag full of dancing frogs – Nazisploitation film, from the mid-seventies.
Set during the tail end of the Second World War, SS Experiment Love Camp, as this release names it, is actually a rather warped love story involving a German soldier, whose been brought to the camp to mate with a select few of the more attractive female political prisoners, in an attempt to propagate the ‘master race’ and increase the number of ‘good’ Germans to continue to follow comedy-moustache-face, Hitler.
The film begins with one of its nastier scenes, with naked female prisoners being tortured, via electricity, to swear allegiance to the Nazi regime. Then, following the credits, we move into the main part of the film, which sees several prettier girls arriving at the camp to be assessed for their suitability, alongside several specially – selected German soldiers, freshly pulled from the Russian Front.
Mirelle, a blonde female prisoner, played well by Paola Corazzi, falls for the charms of the more liberal German soldier, Helmut (Mircha Craven). Despite being forced to have sex together, they have natural chemistry so when Helmut disappears for a month, after supposedly helping the manipulative Col. von Kleiben, (Giogio Cerioni), with an experiment, Mirelle becomes worried. And, quite rightly so, since the colonel, – having lost the ability to have sex, after a woman he raped on the front line savagely bit him in his nether regions – has arranged for the camp’s surgeon to replace his own mangled genitals with Helmut’s. So, when Helmut realises that he no longer has his own special ‘helmet’ – sorry – he goes nuts – sorry again – and tears through the camp looking for the ‘balling’ recipient, prompting the now infamous line of – ‘You bastard, what have you done to my balls…’
When it comes to Nazisploitation films this one isn’t as gratuitous as some, such as Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS, and it’s certainly got better production values than many, being well made and having a story, of sorts. Although, I wasn’t too keen on the score, by Roberto Pregadio and Vasil Kojucharov; however, it still kind of works, except for the fairground ride type motifs, which grate.
Sadly, there can be no ‘happy ever after’ ending in a movie called SS Experiment Love Camp, but it’s a ‘fun ride’ while it lasts, if you’re into cheesy, sleazy exploitation films and can stomach some of the more disturbing elements of the film, including women prisoners having their eardrums destroyed by having compressed gas blown into their ear canals. And there’s also the infamous scene, which was on the original GO Video cover, of the young woman hung naked, upside down, from a large stake. And it was that cover, of course, which got the film banned in the UK, and elsewhere, in the first place, which brings us full circle to where this blog post began.
As I’ve already mentioned 88 Films have done a great job on the presentation of the film, and on the packaging itself, with great new artwork, plus, on the reverse side you get the original uncensored artwork by Joel Robinson. Additionally, there’s a nice Blu-ray-sized booklet included, which features an essay by Tim Murray, entitled Nazispoitation, Punks and the Nasties, which offers a nicely illustrated summary of the Nazisploitation subgenre of film, placing it in context of what other cultural shifts were going on at the time, especially the punk counterculture. It’s just a shame that they didn’t create a video version of said essay to include on the disc, but I’m just being picky now…
There are also a number of special features on the disc including;
Audio commentary with Italian film experts Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti – This is a solid, if rather slow, commentary which talks about the actors, crew and Nazisploitation genre, in general. In fact, they deem SS Experiment Camp as being a 2nd tier Nazisploitation film since it’s comparatively well-made and more acceptable compared with other titles, such as Beast in Heat and Salon Kitty. We also find out that the principal composer is now better known in Italy for his regular appearances in a popular talent show than for his film oeuvre.
Sadistically yours, Sergio G (30 mins) – The director talks about his experiences in the film industry and how he made films across a range of different genres. In particular, he talks about how the film industry has changed over the years.
SSadist Sound – An interview with music historian Pierpaolo De Sanctis (28.5 mins) – De Sanctis talks about the composer’s history and how he out started in Jazz music before moving into films, including scoring for comedies (Gang Wars) and Giallo (Death Carries a Cane).
The Alibiso Dynasty – Interview with editor Eugenio Alabiso (26 mins) – Interestingly, Eugenio mostly talks about the producer who got him involved in films, Salvatore, and about how he raised finance for a number of films, including by borrowing money from the wrong sort of people…
Italian opening and closing titles (2.50 mins) – Exactly what you expect to see…
Original Trailer (3 mins) – This makes it looks more like an action film.
