The Snake God (1970)
Starring: Beryl Cunningham, Nadia Cassini
Plot: Abandoned by her rich industrialist husband on a
remote Caribbean estate, Paola befriends Stella, a beautiful local girl who is
an adept of a hidden voodoo cult. The two women become inseparable, sharing
their most intimate secrets. Everything goes well until Paola demands that
Stella take her to one of the voodoo ceremonies that she attends every week.
There Paola falls under the spell of Djamballa, the powerful snake god, from
whose magic there is no escape.
My Review and Thoughts:
Film (4/5)
Brought out by one of my favorite DVD companies of all time
Mondo Macabro. They bring films out that never get the light of day, or those
that are unearthed and brought out from the hidden darkness of the forgotten
cinema world. To me Mondo Macabro DVD is the place to go to look for these
wonderful obscure pieces of cinema, overlooked and yet dugout for fans of this
type of genre. The Snake God DVD is another prime example of the amazing work
of this company.
The Snake God is something truly unique. Something truly
eye-opening and very visually sexual, and bizarre for the viewer. The weirdness
of this film is what makes it all the better to view.
This was directed by a stunningly visionary talent that graced
many films that have become cult classics throughout the years, Pierro
Vivarelli. He worked on the original script for the classic Django starring the
one and only Franco Nero. He wrote the 1977 cult adult classic Emmanuelle in
America. He directed the over the top trashy thriller Satanik (1968) which he
also acted in. Piero Vivarelli (1927–2010) was a brilliant writer, director,
and an actor. He was an all around truly stunning piece of classic Italian, grindhouse
cult Cinema.
The Snake God is an early Italian attempt at Blaxploitation,
yet becomes a sexploitation film that brings the viewer into an odd setting of
female exploration, ancient god rituals, and sex swapping. The film is woven
with all the wild sex, interracial sex swapping, and truly is a politically
incorrect Italian film done in the style of the old gritty Grindhouse sex films
of the past.
This stars a true cult film goddess Nadia Cassini who was in
the ultra-cheese-tastic and corny b-movie wonder, Starcrash. Always a wonder to
view. She is a gifted classic cult actress gracing many memorable characters in
cult cinema. She graced 1976's Emanuelle Silver Tongue. 1971's ultra-weird eye
orgy, When Women Played Ding Dong.
This also stars the wonderful and amazing cult
actress/writer/singer Beryl Cunningham. Fans of cult cinema will know her from
1970's cult Weekend Murders, also starring in 1976's Ugly Dirty and Bad. She
also starred in the one and only 1972's The Black Decameron. She is a gifted
talented and beautiful actress that captured a spark in her roles. She is
stunning as always in her role in the Snake God.
How can you go wrong with these cult films, sex, voodoo,
dancing women, did I mention beach sex? This is a wild ritualistic voodoo film,
that only the Italians could do in the 1970s. Truly an obscure, lost, weird film.
The Snake God is for fans that understand and enjoy these ultra-rare
and weird pieces of cinema. These types of films are an acquired taste. Those
who seek these out may ultimately enjoy them. These films are for fans of cult
cinema, grind house cinema, B-movie Cinema, late night films, sex crazed
drive-in voodoo and Italian eye candies of twisted plots and over the top
effects.
A Wonderful DVD to own for those who enjoy this type of
cinema. I highly recommend for the fans of Cult Cinema. Truly a forgotten piece
that was finally unearthed and created for a new DVD that can grace the shelves
of all the fans of this wonderful genre.
Audio/Video (4/5)
I have nothing to compare this to. I have never seen this
movie until now, and I've never owned another copy. This was filmed back in the
day when it was not so good to begin with, but this DVD cleans it up and makes
it Crisp. The audio is good. The visuals are good, and it's great that this has
been recorded and brought out and enhanced for this generation.
Language: Italian | Subtitles: English (Optional, embedded
in Mkv file)
Aspect ratio: Cinemascope 2.35:1 | Length: 94mn
Extras (3/5)
Just being able to own this film is an extra. Just being
able to showcase that this exists once again for the fans that enjoy this kind of
genre is an extra.
Interview with Director
Production notes
Trailer
Overall (4/5)
Like I said this is for fans that appreciate this type of
cinema. Fans that understand the quality of cult cinema. This is a wonderful
DVD. A wonderful unearthing of a film that truly graces the inner fan of Cult
Cinema.
Mondo Macabro are for the fans. For they truly know how to give gifts of unearthed, forgotten films. They grace this type of genre of film. They showcase, the bizarre and the weird, the underground, the grind house, the foreign, the lost films of their time. This is another wonderful DVD brought out for fans. The Snake God is truly a one of a kind film that must be seen to be understood or respected.