Sacred Flesh
Heretic Entertainment
Cast: Sally Tremaine, Moyna Cope, Simon Hill, Kristina Bill
Extras: Commentary Track, Trailer, Storyboard, Stills
Rating:
The brand new "Sacred Flesh" DVD from independent studio Heretic Entertianment can't decide if it's a nun-sploitation movie or an attack on religious tradition. It has a lot of fun trying, though.
Set in the late 18th century Sister Mary has been assigned to investigate a spreading sickness of the mind amongst the nuns in her convent. Mary reads the confessions of nuns who have committed acts of sinful perversity or self torture and eventually she begins to succumb to her own illness. She is plagued by visions which include vibrant meetings with Mary Magdalene.
"Sacred Flesh" opens with two nuns discussing Mother Superior Elizabeth, who may be possessed. In the next scene, the village's Williams girl is groped by a bearded young boy. Then we see Sister Sarah confessing. Next, one nun strips another to the waist, and begins whipping her. She stops, and they engage in steamy foreplay. It gets better. Sister Katherine is molested by two priests; a soft organ droning-on in the background. In a final sequence, a beautiful, virginal(and buxom) young nun is attacked and tied to a large cross (of all things). She is stripped and aroused by two lesbian nuns. These scenes are interrupted by speeches from a skullfaced demon in nun's garb. It doesn't make sense, it was censored in England, but it sure is pretty.
"Sacred Flesh" is a tasty, frothy, tongue-in-cheek sex farce, with female nudity and kinky torture. It is highly erotic, sexually charged, and probably profane; all at the same time. The story is muddled and incoherent, but the film does benefit from interesting cross-lighting. Filtered red and blue pastels drift through chapel windows, banks of candles play against convent walls. Digital effects add a dream-like, soft-porn aura.
The DVD offers a full anamorphic widescreen transfer with sharp colors and deep, solid blacks.
The Dolby Digital Stereo audio is strong and clear. But, at the 14-minute mark, a heavy organ track muffles the demon's dialogue, which can't be understood. Sloppy audio balance returns at the 19-minute mark, as the boy and girl stroll through the court-yard, leading their horses. Once again, dialogue is poorly recorded, and drowned under the horses' clip-clopping soundtrack.
Extras on this release include the director's commentary, which details the impressive research of the film and the strange truths behind the spreading sickness that did plague Catholic churches and convents. You also get a still gallery, behind-the-scenes photos, storyboards, and a CD publicity montage.
If "Sacred Flesh" sounds like your cup of tea, trust me, you haven't seen anything like this before. I haven't.
