Browse all reviews by letter     A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 - 9

USA 1975
Directed by
Russ Meyer
106 minutes
Rated R

Reviewed by
Dave Michael Brown
3 stars

Supervixens

Synopsis: Super Angel (Shari Eubank) is murdered by Harry Sledge (Charles Napier), a corrupt cop called in to solve some domestic strife. Her husband, Clint Ramsey (Charles Pitts) is framed for the murder and goes on the run from Sledge across America. His desperate attempts to remain incommunicado are thwarted by a succession of busty nymphomaniacs who all want Ramsey for themselves and soon Sledge closes in for an explosive climax.

Russ Meyer had had his fingers burnt with the major studios. The success of Vixen had led to a fractious relationship with Twentieth Century Fox, which produced Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and the little-seen The Seven Minutes. Both films had been financial failures and drove Meyer back into independent filmmaking with Supervixens.

Supervixens plays like a Russ Meyer best of. All of his quirks are present on screen: caricatural Nazi’s, square-jawed heroes, girls with unfeasibly large breasts and lust in the dust, not to mention the ribald dialogue and characteristic rapid-fire editing. The film is full of familiar faces for Meyer afficionadi; Haji from Good Morning and Goodbye!, John Lazarr from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Stuart Lancaster from Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and the legendary Uschi Digard from Cherry, Harry and Raquel.

The film received a lot of criticism for its violence. The scene where Harry Sledge murders Super Angel in the bathtub is very graphic and jars with the rest of the film. Saying that, Charles Napier is fantastic as Sledge, an impotent cop seething with macho rage. The women, all of whom have Super in their name, are all extraordinary and Shari Eubank excels in her dual role of Super Angel and Supervixen. Her venomous dialogue is spat out with searing rage as she taunts Sledge’s advances. The film comes alive when the duo is on screen; their verbal sparring is a high point that the film never quite matches in other departments. The film does meander along at times and some segments could have been easily excised, Ramsey’s desert go-carting escapade for example.

Supervixens is road movie and road runner cartoon rolled into one; even down to the “Meep Meep” sound effects. It’s a bit too episodic in its storytelling and outstays it welcome but when it works it shows the director at the height of his powers.

 

 

 

back

Want something different?

random vintage best worst