All Rise...

Judge Gordon Sullivan kills with extreme prejudice.

The Charge

"It's Franco at his perversely erotic best."

Opening Statement

Perhaps it was Dante Gabrielle Rosetti burying (and then exhuming) his poems with his dead wife that forever cemented the notion that the poet and (usually his) muse were inseparable. Sure, painters and sculptors had models, but it was the poet who was most inspired by another human. But perhaps the history of 20th century cinema will help change the record. Jean-Luc Godard had Jean Seberg, Anna Karina, and Anne Wiazemsky. Federico Fellini had Guiletta Masina. Orson Welles had Rita Hayworth and Oja Kodar. Despite never having made a film anywhere near as good as those cinematic masters, Jess Franco had—all too briefly—Soledad Miranda. They only made a handful of films together, but the results stand out in Franco voluminous filmography. Though Vampyros Lesbos will always have my heart as Franco's best film, She Killed in Ecstasy is a fascinating follow-up, a fact only aided by this fine Blu-ray release.

Facts of the Case

Dr. Johnson (Fred Williams, Count Dracula) is drummed out of the medical profession for his unorthodox methods. Disheartened, Johnson commits suicide. His gorgeous wife (Soledad Miranda, Vampyros Lesbos) decides to get revenge by seducing and then killing the four people she sees as responsible for his death.

The Evidence

She Killed in Ecstasy has most of the hallmarks we've come to expect from a Jess Franco film. There's some weird/mysterious shenanigans surrounding the plot—this time it's Dr. Johnson's controversial medial practice, which involves embryos and experimentation. You've got the gorgeous woman as the protagonist—Soledad Miranda stalks through this like her life depends on it. There's also the usual complement of sex by his star, including with both men and women. Finally, there's the requisite violence—She Killed in Ecstasy lives up to its title as the people responsible for Dr. Johnson's death are offed.

What She Killed in Ecstasy lacks, perhaps, is the gonzo nature of much of Franco's other work. Those nightmarish films like Vampyros Lesbos work often because they don't make a whole lot of sense. The lack of typical narrative logic makes them even more shocking and/or weird. She Killed in Ecstasy, by contrast, is pretty darn straightforward. The committee rejects Dr. Johnson, he kills himself, and his wife seduces and then murders the people responsible. Which isn't to say that She Killed in Ecstasy is a fast-paced narrative ride. The film definitely takes the usual Franco detours to give us extended scenes of sex and death. This makes it a perfect on-ramp for Franco-newbies. It has a lot of the best parts of his work (sex, death, crazy music) without some of the excesses that his other films feature.

Of course the main reason to watch She Killed in Ecstasy is Soledad Miranda, who died in a tragic car accident before all of her collaborations with Franco were released. In an alternate world, Franco would have continued to make films with her, and She Killed in Ecstasy shows just how deep their collaboration could have gone. There is something haunted about Miranda's look on screen, and she has a presence that many actresses, even beautiful ones, would kill for. She's equally convincing as the dutiful wife in the film's beginning, as well as the dangerous seductress by the end. Perhaps the film's biggest drawback is that it's very difficult to believe that anyone would not recognize Miranda in the different wigs she wears throughout the film. Presumably she wears them because she knows her victims socially though her husband, but Miranda's raw screen presence always comes through.

She Killed in Ecstasy also absolutely gets the Blu-ray treatment it deserves, starting with an 80 minute uncut version of the film. The film's 1.66:1/1080p AVC-encoded transfer is sourced from a surprisingly well-preserved print. There's a bit of speckling here and there, but overall the source looks fantastic. Detail—especially well-rendered grain—is great throughout, and colors are nice and bold without bleeding. Skin tones look fine, and black levels stay consistent and deep. Due to budgetary restrictions this isn't going to look like a blockbuster, but this is the best the film is likely to look on home video any time soon. The LPCM mono soundtrack (in German) is surprisingly bold. Dialogue is clean and clear (though it doesn't always match actors' lips, as is typical of Franco's international productions). The film's music sounds remarkably crisp as well. Subtitles are included.

Interviews make up the bulk of the extras here. They start with "Jess Killed in Ecstay," an interview with Franco discussing his collaboration with Miranda. Another features Miranda historian Amy Brown discussing the actress and her impact. We also hear from Stephen Trower, who's working on a book on Franco's films. Finally, Paul Miller is interviewed about his numerous collaborations with Franco. We also get the film's German theatrical trailer on the disc. The set also includes a CD that features the complete soundtracks for Vampyros Lesbos, She Killed in Ecstasy, and The Devil from Akasava. These two discs are house in a clear plastic keep case that slides into a semi-transparent sleeve, creating a nice effect with the poster art.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Even at his most straightforward, Jess Franco doesn't make straightforward films. By the standards of most revenge films, She Killed in Ecstasy is slow, boring, and predictable. We know what Miranda will be doing almost from the film's start, she does it, and there's not much of a wrinkle along the way. Sure, there are pleasures to be had in watching her plot unfold, but they're not the pleasures most people associate with revenge dramas. Those looking for characterization or meaningful dialogue will also be disappointed. Dr. Johnson killing himself seems a bit like a stretch, and the idea of his wife seducing then killing those who rejected his medical work is a pretty big leap. I don't think that's a knock on the film, but viewers should know what they're getting into.

Closing Statement

She Killed in Ecstasy is a great entry point in Jess Franco's filmography. Full of much of the rampant nudity and dream-like atmosphere he's known for, but with a plot that can actually summarized, the film is another great collaboration between Franco and star Soledad Miranda. This is perhaps the definitive home video presentation of the film, with an excellent audiovisual presentation and some fine extras.

The Verdict

Guilty of excess.

Give us your feedback!

Did we give She Killed in Ecstasy (1971) (Blu-ray) a fair trial? yes / no

What's "fair"? Whether positive or negative, our reviews should be unbiased, informative, and critique the material on its own merits.

Share This Review

Follow DVD Verdict

Other Reviews You Might Enjoy

• Saw V (Blu-Ray)
• The Skeleton Key
• Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (Blu-ray)
• Demons