Fascinating action/sex film from French cult master

Max Pecas is my favorite French porn director, comparing his work to endless disappointing efforts from his leading peers Jose Benazeraf and Jean Rollin. An obscure title "The Black Hand" from his oeuvre is quite enlightening as to the age-old issue of how would a ghettoized porn director handle directing a mainstream film.

Russ Meyer in America got the chance with 20th Century-Fox in 1970/71 and both his famous (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls) and forgotten/reviled (The Seven Minutes) are fascinating examples. 

But most pornographers (Joe Sarno an obvious example) never get a shot at making a real film that doesn't rely on porn content (soft or hard). Here Pecas is making an action film in which he shows skill at eliciting consistently effective acting performances in both lead and supporting roles, clean/evocative action outbursts in the Jean-Pierre Melville mode, and idiosyncratic style points all the way. The inclusion of partial nudity and sex is no more jarring than in any 21st Century major movie, and not the crutch one would expect.

Stolid hero played by "James Harris" (sounds like Kubrick's collaborator of "Bedford Incident" fame) is weakest element, especially as casting has him matching physically his opposite number nemesis. Otherwise we have a very colorful cast: a sexy white-haired evil genius Jean Topart, who is wont to pontificate on East/West relations when he is not humping some young babe; 3 beautiful babes led by genre favorite Janine Raynaud, who is sort of a red herring (introduced in a striking scene playing chess against the evil one, and smoking a pipe), since the other gals seem just like eye candy for many reels before emerging as Janine's equal in skulduggery); and even a mysterious dwarf who tortures a beautiful blonde in the film's second scene.

Opening is stark action-man cinema, very well directed and emblematic of the fact that Pecas is directing a real movie, all the way. After that, the dwarf sets off a series of strong BDSM and fetish content scenes that are up to the domestic '60s level, popularized by Bob Cresse in films like Hot Spur and Love Camp 7. Name your kink and it is effectively (soft-core only of course) interjected at the proper moment here.

The spy/intrigue content is verbally played up but has little impact here. Style is everything with a baby-doll impersonation by the blonde member Anny Nelsen of Topart's troupe loaded with interesting shtick, and the nihilistic finale very skilfully blocked and staged with enough final reel twists to fill a boatload of movies. A 21st Century emphasis on gore has made Pecas's action and death scenes seem very tame, but I enjoyed them for that very reason of lacking the explicitness cop-out.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Mieux vaut être riche et bien portant que fauché et mal foutu

Mieux vaut être riche et bien portant que fauché et mal foutu (1980)

Gene Kelly and Teresa Celli in Black Hand (1950)

On se calme et on boit frais à Saint-Tropez

Let's Calm Down and Drink Fresh in Saint-Tropez (1987)

Let's Calm Down and Drink Fresh in Saint-Tropez

La main noire

Photos1

Top Cast21

User reviews1

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed