We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow

Eugenie... The Story of

Her Journey into Perversion (1970)

STARRING: Marie Liljedahl, Maria Rohm, Jack Taylor, Christopher Lee

PLOT: A brother-sister duo set their evil designs on a young ingenue whose beauty and innocence drives them to violence!

IN TWO WORDS: Private. Island.

MY TAKE: This second film in the Franco-directed "Eugenie" franchise is in NO WAY related to the father-daughter orgiastic murderfest -- "Eugenie de Sade" -- save for the common thread: a young naïve girl named Eugenie. But just to make things a little more confusing (hey, why not?) both films were shot back-to-back in 1970, this being the intended second of the two. However, the star of the original film, Soledad Miranda, died tragically in a traffic accident. "Eugenie de Sade" was shelved until 1975. That is how the second film, "Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey into Perversion" came about to be released FIRST, five years before it's predecessor. Confused? It doesn't matter! There's no need to know anything about the other film whatsoever to get through this review. See how I waste your precious time?

Eugenie is a delicate girl, sheltered by her loving parents and clueless to the harsh ways of the world. Ah, but how her innocence torments her secret admirers! As it happens, Miss Eugenie has become the object of fascination of a wealthy duo of brother/sister aristocrats. They're rich, they're bored, they're sexual sociopaths. While both have deviant designs on this graceful creature, they suffer from varying degrees of madness. While Madame de St. Ange plays cat-and-mouse, dear brother Mirvel has darker desires. Sick, bloody desires! A handful of lies and a little blackmail later, Eugenie is invited on an exclusive vacation to the sibling's private island for relaxation in the sun, unawares of the plans they have laid...

...But, you know. She catches on pretty quick.

Whatever will they do to poor Eugenie? Is she as innocent as she seems? Will Mirvel's raging, uncontrollable lust cause him to come across as twitchy and desperate, committing party-foul after party-foul? What's with all the Satanists anyhow, and HOLY SHIT, IS THAT REALLY CHRISTOPHER LEE? (Oh yeah. It is.) All will be stripped naked, whipped, accosted and (eveeeentually) revealed by the tolling of the ominous bell... dun dun DUN!

As much as I enjoyed "Eugenie de Sade" I think somehow I ended up liking THIS film even more. As far as depravity, it's not quite as far off the deep end. While there's no creepy DAD-SEX there's enough other taboo bits to even the playing field. Marie Liljedahl plays Eugenie as a girl who is both victimized brutally, and -- bizarrely -- ultimately, into it. (She's nowhere near the maniac that Soledad Miranda's Eugenie was.) Being able to bring some realistic emotions to THE ORGY OF WEIRD gives the heroine much needed sympathy. Eugenie isn't insane. Eugenie is coerced! Tempted into random acts of badness by very rich and attractive people with wacky 70's drugs! In fact, it's hard to say that with a few cocktails in you, YOU wouldn't get down and do some kinky shit with a brother-sister tag-team. They own a PRIVATE ISLAND. Those two words hold a lot of sway. Don't even start with me. PRIVATE. ISLAND.

The latest in fashionable private island wear.

It's hard to hate bad guys who are so abusively good-looking, so I won't. I SUBMIT! Maria Rohm and Jack Taylor are wonderful as the sibling villains. Blonde and flawless, dressed exquisitely or exquisitely undressed. You may recognize them from various other Jess Franco productions -- in "Count Dracula" they played the roles of Mina and Arthur, respectively. Here they shine as shameless, socialite sex-perverts. See, THIS is why kids need to learn the value of a buck. You give them an allowance without demanding household chores in return, and what do you get? They grow up all fucked and selfish, wanting to whip people with chains while listening to free jazz, and never EVER calling their mother. Spoiled brats with their own PRIVATE ISLAND.

The look of the film is just lush. The lighting gels add ridiculous color, really amping up the effects of the drug scenes. I was stone-cold sober while watching this flick and some scenes left me feeling Benadryl-loopy. Dreamy and melodic music is woven through the film which heightens the otherworldly ambiance. I particularly enjoyed a guitar ballad that the sibling's servant Augustin plays on his acoustic. Though horribly dubbed, it's quite enchanting. From beginning to end the film is an erotic bad-trip. Vicious enough that you might long to stop, but so alluring that you can't. Much like the spell Eugenie unwittingly casts over those who adore her, so this picture weaves a siren's song around your brain. Also, there are MONDO TITTIES.

ON A SCALE OF 1-10: Sexy and intense! 9!