Exotic Malice (1980)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Powerful

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Blistering performances.

EXOTIC MALICE is another film made by Italian exploitation director Joe D'Amato during his brief stay in the Caribbean. Once again the Dominican Republic locations are one of the most interesting things about it, bringing a touch of natural exoticism that the narrative itself can't hope to achieve. Unfortunately unlike other films D'Amato made during this era, EXOTIC MALICE is basically a piece of pornography with little else to distinguish it.The hard-faced Mark Shannon plays an ailing guy who discovers that due to a rare disease he'll have to have his genitals removed in two weeks' time. To that end he visits a tropical island to have some fun with the ladies, in long and padded-out sex scenes that supply the demand for pornography but do nothing else to further the narrative. Said sex usually involves the stiff (in more than one sense of the word) Shannon although another guy shows up later on and in one instance a white woman encounters a couple of black guys.It's all very sleazy and largely uninteresting. The best thing about the film is the sole piece of characterisation in the sub-plot involving Shannon being haunted by the ghost of his dead wife. This leads to a shocking climax which is inevitably the best part of the film and the only bit you'll remember. The script was written by George Eastman who has a cameo. D'Amato's camera-work remains inventive but even this quality can't hide the fact that this piece of exploitation was shot on the cheap on a very low budget.

D'Amato mentality is sure different from mainstream crowd movie-goers but is it good or bad, is it art or porno, is it possible to define? Its all depend on who you ask, right? So why I watch this B-movie from past but not something mainstream? Yes, why? Why I don't mention anything like "Citizen Kane" which supposedly timeless jewel? Simple. Because D'Amato reflect on my life and my experience, yes, somehow I feel connected. Any movie is a propaganda and propaganda have to be convincing, real and imaginative. Do I actually care what's movie about? No, I am expecting to be engaged by plot, music, actors, location, talking etc. Once upon the time I watch supposedly great movie about Vietnam with great Chuck Norris and how he is great and Vietnamese bad, then I ask myself--who invaded who--Vietnam invaded USA or USA invaded Vietnam? As the answer was self-obvious so great Chuck Norris suddenly not so great anymore. And so it goes.

I was more than a little surprised to find that this film was made before Porno Holocaust, because I was convinced that it recycled some of the same scenes! The beach side sex scenes between Mark Shannon and a couple of women (among them Porno Holocaust's Annj Goren and Lucia Ramirez) would not have been out of place in that trashy masterpiece. It also seems to have been filmed on the same locations. The street Mark and his friend drive down looks just like the one from the opening of Porno Holocaust. And then there is a dream sequence that is very similar to Porno Holocaust's double teaming scene. I figured Porno Holocaust inspired bits of this one, but apparently it was the other way around.As a matter of fact, this film has a lot more artistic merit than I could possibly have expected! D'Amato always framed his porn within a dark context, but as the other reviewer mentions this really takes it to a whole new level! Eschewing the escapism of something like Porno Holocaust or Emanuelle in America, this is a hallucinatory drama that comes quite close to transcending its seedy origins. With a little tweaking this could've been a masterpiece. One of the problems is the sex scenes. While I think taking them out would render the main premise pointless, I feel as though they could've been inserted into the story in a more fluid manner. As it stands the plot stands still for these pointless sex scenes, including one that doesn't even feature the protagonist! The final one is strangely poignant however, and definitely tied into the story. Speaking of the story, I wish I had a better understanding of it, but my copy was in Italian with German subtitles. My understanding was good enough to get the gist and meaning of it, but the dialogue might have helped me understand certain scenes better (such as Mark's visit to the weird guy on the beach).D'Amato's cinematography is nothing special here (especially in comparison to some of his better known works), but every so often a little of his flair comes through. The moody flashbacks and visions Mark has, as well as his visions of his old flame Myra, definitely had the intended effect. These scenes may remind D'Amato aficionados of his Gothic chiller Death Smiles at Murder, though they're not quite that effective. There was one slow motion shot I really liked of Mark and the doctor walking down a hall. As for his direction, his handling of the dialogue scenes is as pedestrian as they come, but he really shines in the more expressionistic sequences. While never reaching what I'd truly call great film-making, I think if he'd taken the material a little more seriously he probably could have done it.Mark Shannon turns in a surprisingly good performance as his name sake character. The scenes of his character's mental breakdown are thoroughly convincing, though feel a tad rushed. I must also say he really sold his agony about his genital pain. The ending, I must say, was an absolute knock out! I didn't expect it at all, nor would I have expected it to be done so realistically. D'Amato's films usually feature some really awful special make-up effects, but this time it's pretty convincing. It was this moment that really convinced me how good the movie could have been. Such as it is, this doesn't quite live up to D'Amato's best. Still I'd say it's essential viewing for any fans of Italian sleaze.

I used to own an average quality VHS tape of this film. Lots of hand-held, shaky but interesting shots(D'Amato's trademark style). Mark Shannon discovers he has got some sort of disease which requires his genitals completely removed. So he heads off to the Caribbean to try and make the most of the time that's left before the operation. There's a weird dream/foursome scene, where Mark Shannon is watching his ex-girlfriend and some older woman service two black guys(perhaps the same two guys as in Porno Holocaust, I don't remember). Overall this is much darker then either "Papaya" or "Orgasmo Nero". Shannon gets to play a really unpleasant type - perhaps the closest he ever got to "proper acting". Some moody music by Nico Fidenco plus a great final scene. I think the "Champagne bottle girl" from "Erotic Nights of the Living Dead" is in this one as well(and in a better shape), playing the hotel maid. George Eastman(who also wrote this) has a small role as Shannon's friend. There are some overlong unexciting sex/filler scenes, but D'Amato fans will understand. I wouldn't mind to have "Sesso Nero" on DVD.