Devil in the Flesh
a.k.a. Le malizie di Venere / Venus in Furs
1969 · Directed by Massimo Dallamano · Italy / West Germany
Devil in the Flesh, a.k.a. Venus in Furs (1969), is an Italian erotic drama by Massimo Dallamano. I was hoping for Jess Franco’s horror starring Klaus Kinski but found this instead. Based on the book by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, it deals with the sado-masochistic relationship between Wanda and Severin. Severin is aroused by pain and humiliation, and Wanda is a willing accomplice until she grows tired of his role-playing and rejects Severin for casual stranger Bruno. Bruno seeks control over the strange household and is soon brutalising Severin, Wanda and the hired domestic staff.
The film faced censorship issues in its native Italy, and there is voyeurism, nudity, sex and whippings in this heady psychodrama that would have been bold choices in late-sixties Catholic Italy. Overall the performances by Laura Antonelli and Régis Vallée are fine, but I didn’t feel invested in the film and will chalk it up as one more off the list. I need to source Franco’s film, as that was my original plan.
Gallery
From the score
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Gianfranco Reverberi – Le malizie di Venere (main theme)
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Gianfranco and Gian Piero Reverberi – Le malizie di Venere (Seq. 3)
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Gianfranco and Gian Piero Reverberi – Le malizie di Venere (Seq. 4)
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Gianfranco and Gian Piero Reverberi – Le malizie di Venere (Seq. 8)
