Huntress: Spirit of the Night (1995)

People are voting emotionally.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Tara(Jenna Bodnar)returns to Breckin, Northern Wales where she was born to attend her father's funeral. She was sent to America, because of her father's fear that a savage beast plaguing the surroundings of the area would harm her. Actually, thanks to a diary containing her father's recorded thoughts and newspaper clippings with photographs, given to her by butler Geoffrey(Constantin Cotimanis), Tara discovers that a panther was behind a mass of slayings, shot by a Breckin citizen, with it's owner, a witch, cursing the female populace to carry the spirit of her beloved animal. Tara finds a young naked female being hunted by a village mob looking for a beast prowling the area killing citizens again, on her father's estate, and watches as the spirit leaves her body looking for a new host to rest..in Tara does it find such rest. While actually being sexually repressed, Tara finds this primal spirit providing an extra motivation to embrace her carnal desires. Meanwhile, childhood friend, Michelle(Blair Valk)and crush, Alek(David Starzyk)wish to purchase Tara's father's estate. Michelle has a specific reason why she wishes to get her hands on the estate, having seduced Alek into finding investors interested in forking over the appropriate funds to do so. But, as Tara becomes accustomed to her surroundings, the atmosphere of it all enveloping her, she may wish to stay, even against the urgings of Geoffrey, worried about her well-being, and local antique-dealer, Ty Bodi(Charles Cooper), a friend of her father's, who believes in the legend of the panther spirit, warning her of it's evil. Through Ty does Tara realize that the beast killed her mother. Also, Tara meets a photographer, Jacob(Michael Wiseman)who she falls for. He's in the area capturing wild life for a magazine, a cavern his temporary refuge and studio. She willingly accepts an offer to pose for him and does so provocatively, letting go of her inhibitions, the animal inside unleashing her from the cage holding her true self at bay. If Tara doesn't sell the estate, Michelle will try more lethal methods..As a few others have already mentioned in the user comments section, I felt this is a loose variation on "Cat People". The ravishing Jenna Bodnar has enough acting skill to tackle the role of an *outsider* transitioning to the new environs where folklore and superstition still remain in the hearts of many. I think, however, this works best as a piece of erotica because Bodnar has such a magnificent body, her figure so well-defined, and director Mark S Manos has the knack for arranging several set-pieces to showcase her "talents." My favorite, besides the terrific cavernous photo session where lightning, rain, and a campfire enhance her naked flesh being bathed with water as it falls, is the first true night where Tara is caught up in a wave of lustful abandon, the animal inside emerging as she takes to a group of steps(..nice prop provided by the director so that Bodnar could work over it, her body barely confined within the silk robe, only a strap containing it)set up in a room overlooking the wilderness, a lantern swaying to and fro. The director's camera covers every inch of Bodnar's body, up and down every curve. Carefully edited are the sex scenes. I think the director wishes for you to salivate over Bodnar, the story is of little consequence next to her "sexual awakening" as the spirit takes hold, ever so pushing her to embrace the dark side, chambered for so long. As a horror film, it isn't successful. I think the film uses the sexuality of "Cat People", while neglecting the violence that derives from being consumed with the aggressive tendencies of the panther to hunt for food. It is mentioned in the film, through newspaper articles of recent attacks and the ever so glum Ty Bodi condemning Tara to leave at once. I cared little about the angle with Michelle and Alek..although, Valk is incredibly sexy and has a very memorable disrobing before crawling on all fours on top of a piano. Unfortunately, though, her threesome with Tara and Alek is uninspired which is a shame since all are attractive. See it for Bodnar, she doesn't disappoint. She even turned me on moving her tongue down a butcher knife in a fantasy sequence. Executively produced by Charles Band(..my DVD carries his Full Moon label)and filmed on stunning, richly lush Romanian locations..there's an enchanting nature this location gives off that seems just right for an erotic fantasy.

The story is essentially a mystery of both the occult and human nature. A serious minded young woman, Tara, returns to the exotic world of her early childhood and makes new acquaintances. Sexual encounters awaken her inner passions, and she soon exhibits a newly discovered physical prowess.Jenna Bodnar, as Tara, is fairly attractive. The few erotic scenes and moderate violence add needed excitement, but they are not done to excess. Suspense and intrigue are the main appeals of the film. The setting is dark and foreboding, and the main plot develops slowly.Tara inherits a wealthy estate from her distant estranged father. Inexplicably, just before his death he insisted that she stay away from the place. Tara's life is in danger and someone is trying to take advantage of her. Local folks repeatedly warn Tara, but they hesitate to tell her what they know. Even her new found mysterious lover, who seems to understand her true nature, offers little help. So, Tara is left practically all alone to ponder her mysterious circumstances. Naive, she is easily exploited, and she suffers a sinister fate.The movie's main disappointment is the fact that it ends with the story unfinished. Tara slowly transforms into something frightening, but we never get to see what she becomes. I don't know if there is any sequel, in which case I am not sure the movie is worth the effort.

This film borrows heavily from "Cat People"; although here the lower production values actually add something to a guilty post-midnight-viewing pleasure.

A young woman returns to her childhood home in Europe (somewhere in England, I think) to inherit her deceased father's mansion. She discovers a strange family curse that that leads her to the usual "sexual awakening" stuff.First of all, Jenna Bodnar (who looks vaguely similar to Tawny Kitean) looks great in the film, with lovely curly red hair and high cheekbones. She gets some great sex scenes, most notably a half-a**ed threesome on a wooden bench, and a nice scene where she slithers and undulates in a dark cave for her prospective photographer boyfriend.Sex aside though, this almost works as an actual film. Bodnar is a good enough actress to make me care (slightly) about her situation. The sets are nice, and the supporting cast helps. Only drawback: an ending so abrupt and inconclusive, I thought the director ran out of film. Maybe director Mark Manos meant for it to be metaphysical or something.