BLOOD ORGY OF THE SHE DEVILS (1973)
Director: Ted V. Mikels
Image Entertainment

Even though it has one of the best titles, as well as one of the best posters in exploitation film history, BLOOD ORGY OF THE SHE DEVILS is rather lame. Mara (Lila Zaborin, who resembles the evil Queen from Disney's animated SNOW WHITE), the "Queen of the Black Witches," uses black magic and has a coven of scantily-clad lovelies who dance about in a provocative way. Utilizing every witchcraft routine known to the history of cinema, Mara holds seances, sticks pins in plush dolls, and she reincarnates herself after some thugs attempt to kill her.

In an ill attempt to add some period to the proceedings, there's a flashback featuring the director himself as a witch-hunter doing the nasty things that Vincent Price and Reggie Nalder did before him. These scenes look worse than any of Andy Milligan's period attempts, and men wearing modern slacks in front of aluminum siding just doesn't cut it. There's a mass-death finale with some OK special effects, but what the dull film really needed to spice it up is some skin. With yummy Leslie McRea (GIRL IN THE GOLD BOOTS) and Annik Borel (LEGEND OF THE WOLF WOMAN) in the cast, you'd think that one of those bodies would slip out of their wardrobe, but Ted kept this one mild and it got released with a PG rating.

The full frame DVD transfer on BLOOD ORGY OF THE SHE DEVILS looks like it was taken from an old master (it's not anamorphic like THE CORPSE GRINDERS). The picture is way too dark, and the colors look passable--nothing to write home about. I also noticed some minor video noise in darker scenes. The mono sound is fine with dialog being distinct despite the limitations of the budget.

Director Mikels gives a commentary on a second audio track, but it's much like the one he recently did for THE CORPSE GRINDERS. Mikels remembers a lot of trivial things, but there are frequent gaps without gab, and at times he just simply is watching the film along with the viewer, reciting the dialog and all. His disclosing of the fact that practically the entire film was made in and outside the famous "castle"--that he and many ladies resided in for years--cheapens one's perceptions of SHE DEVILS even more. The commentary is definitely worth a listen but it would've benefited greatly with a moderator.

The only other extras are the original theatrical trailer and trailers for other Mikels films that are out or will soon be available on DVD from Image Entertainment. (George R. Reis)

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