Director Joe D’Amato is a man synonymous with bad movies and erotica. Being responsible for such films as the Emanuelle series from the ’70s, two Ator films in the ’80s (one of which wound up on MST3K) and Killing Birds (also known as Zombie 5). He even produced Troll 2! But where does Sexy Pirates fit in? Is it erotica? Crap? Both, actually. And it’s not like the film starts out aiming high.
Sir Francis Hamilton (Menyhert Dutombe) sets out to form a peace treaty with France against Spain, but is taken captive by pirates. His wife, Lady Elena Hamilton (Anita Rinaldi), sets out to rescue him herself when the government will not lift a finger. With the help of a rag tag group of mercenaries and malcontents, led by Captain Butler (Carlo De Palma), she sets out to get back what’s hers. But will she be in love with Butler by the end of her grand adventure?
The combined resumes of D’Amato and Rinaldi alone would lead you to believe this an erotic film and opening scene makes a strong argument as well. Lady Hamilton approaches her husband and tells him how she doesn’t want him to think about another woman for even one second while he’s away at see. Cut to the bedroom where she slowly strips for him and joins him in bed. But where in a pornographic film a 20 minute sex marathon would follow, this film quickly cuts away to the next scene
In fact, it’s another 40 minutes before any more nudity is seen and there are only four like scenes total in the film. And while you see plenty of flesh in these scenes there is nothing more than just that. Every time a sex scene is about to get going it cuts away.
So it’s safe to deduce that Sexy Pirates isn’t an erotica film, despite the labeling on the back, so then it can safely fall under the “crap” category. But is it “so bad it’s good?” It almost hits that category as it has some ridiculous swashbuckling scenes that are good for a laugh and Lady Hamilton is kind of a bad-ass female lead. It doesn’t really have anything to offer in the way of plot, however, and the genre really doesn’t lend itself towards that.
D’Amato is a director who made almost 200 movies, but I really doubt this is the film you want to use as a springboard to launch yourself into his debauchery riddled world.
Sexy Pirates is presented in 1.33:1 full screen and the sound is in Dolby Digital 2.0 surround Italian with English subtitles. This film looks like it maybe have been transferred from an ’80s VHS tape even though it was made in ’98. The sound is pretty terrible too.
Nothing.
The Italian title of the film is I Predatori Della Antille which directly translates to “Predators Of The West Indies.” Now there is nothing even remotely erotic about that title, hence changing it to Sexy Pirates. If you’re looking for some good erotica, this isn’t going to do it for you. If you’re looking for a bad pirate movie, and a Pirates of the Caribbean sequel isn’t available, you might be entertained.
One Seven Movies presents Sexy Pirates. Directed by Joe D’Amato. Written by Donna Dane. Starring Anita Rinaldi and Carle De Palma. Running time: 90 minutes. Not Rated. Contains nudity, sexual themes and mild violence. Originally released in 1998. Released on DVD: April 5, 2011.
