DVD Review: Exotic Malice

DVD Reviews, Reviews

That’s just messed up. Exotic Malice (Sesso Nero) was director Joe D’Amato’s first excursion into true X-rated action and not merely an erotic R. The man who gave the world Emmanuelle and the Last Cannibals couldn’t make a feel good carnal tale. This is the kind of movie that makes you ask that ultimate question: “Who’s the audience for this?” This isn’t the type of erotica that’s perfect for a date night. I can’t imagine a group of slimy moviegoers in a grindhouse clapping at the end of Exotic Malice.

Mark Shannon arrives in a tropical location which should inspire plenty of cavorting with the native ladies. But before the fun can start, we’re flashbacked to his last doctor’s visit. Turns out Shannon has cancer of the prostate. He has to have surgery in 14 days or he’ll die. The surgery will render him impotent. Instead of spending this time with his wife, he zips off to the tropical island. A decade before he had an affair with Majra (Annj Goren). Things didn’t end well. People swear after Shannon left, she killed herself. Shannon doesn’t believe it. In between sex with hotel employees and plenty of painkiller shots to the crotch, he finds his lost love. Or has he? Is she a ghost, a narcotic fantasy or real? No need to spoil the weirdness. And there’s no way I’ll destroy the ending other than the so “that’s just messed up.”

Exotic Malice combines the finer elements of a 1980 Euro-exotica with the depressing qualities of international cinema. This really makes queasy viewing. This isn’t a tropical flesh romp. There’s no getting lost in the seduction since we’re constantly reminded of Shannon’s fate. It’s like watching a grown man’s “Make A Wish” fantasy. D’Amato made an X-rated film that seemed geared toward people who wanted to watch other people in the audience get extremely uncomfortable as things get more and more messed up on the screen.

The video is 1.66:1 anamorphic. The print is rather rough with plenty of wear and scratches. Which isn’t that bad if you appreciate the grindhouse patina. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono. It sounds like the sound was created in post production so even though it’s in Italian, nobody sounds right. There are English subtitles to follow the freakish storyline.

The lone extra is three minutes of Deleted Scenes which is a low resolution sequence of one of the actresses doing a solo session.

Exotic Malice is not Cinemax After Dark fun. The entire plot line about Mark Shannon’s upcoming operation really takes the action into a creepy tropical terrain. Perhaps it’s because of this weirdness that you have to watch it to the really uncomfortable end.

One 7 Movies presents Exotic Malice. Directed by: Joe D’Amato. Starring: Mark Shannon, George Eastman and Annj Goren. Running Times: 79 minutes. Rated: X. Released on DVD: August 2, 2011. Available at Amazon.com.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.