A defrocked priest, Paul Vogel (Jesus Franco), makes his living by writing pornography for a S&M magazine. His publisher, Franval, praises Vogel's work for its authenticity, unaware that the mad priest draws inspiration from the exorcisms and inquisitions he undertakes in order to save sinners' souls.
Vogel discovers that Franval and his cohorts (who include Lina Romay and Monica Swinn) indulge in satanic games and, failing to recognise the difference between fantasy and reality, embarks upon a new campign of divinely inspired murders…
Like many a Jesus Franco film 1974's Exorcisms exists in a number of different forms. Not only are there assorted alternate cuts like Sexorcisme produced for different markets, with more or less extreme sex and torture scenes to suit, but also a re-released 1979 version, The Sadist of Notre Dame incorporating substantial quantities of new footage.
As is, this Exorcisms cut is typical Franco fare. It will appeal to fans whilst leaving the majority of viewers scratching their heads in disbelief that such a film could ever get made, let alone attract a cult following.
Francophiles will get the in-jokes, like the presences of Franval ( Eugenie De Sade ) and Inspector Tanner ( The Awful Dr Orlof ) and recognise the distinctive obsessions and stylistic tropes of its auteur . Others will just see a mess of a film whose plentiful scenes of sex and violence are frequently rendered unintentionally comic through bad acting, inept direction and sheer cheapness.
The opening sequence, the classic … and it's only a game … S&M nightclub scene, neatly encapsulates the Franco world. Even Franco's harshest critics would have to acknowledge that he can light and frame an effective tableux vivant and create a distinct mood like few others. But even Franco's staunchest defenders would surely recognise that the inevitable zooms in on the pubic regions of the (invariably female) performers tends to break said mood…
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Exorcisms is the character of Vogel. Rather than portraying him as a figure of fun and going for cheap anti-clerical jibes in a Buñuel-lite manner, Franco presents Vogel with deadly seriousness. It's the utter conviction that he is right coupled with a blindness towards ambiguity and context that makes him dangerous, even psychotic. The director's own position, one presumes, given his life and work, is that freedom is good and censorship bad, yet the fact that he can acknowledge and represent the dangers of both, here and elsewhere, could just be another measure of his artistic worth and indication that there is often much more to his films than meets the eye.
Synapse's Region 1 DVD of Exorcism presents the integral version of the film, pieced together from various sources. In consequence the image quality is variable, but also hard to criticise in a "this is as good as it's ever going to get variety". Audio is fine, though the lack of options – an English dub is your lot – may disappoint some.
The main attraction among the extras is undoubtedly Franco's first ever commentary track, moderated by his current producer/backer Kevin Collins of One Shot Productions.
Franco's English is fine, though his accent combined with some microphone noise mean that one does have to make an effort to hear what he is saying. It's worth it, as Collins obviously knows the questions Franco fans want to hear answered and gets the director to deiver a wealth of detail on his working methods, collaborators and more.
The only flaw is the – perhaps inevitable – unwillingness to really push Franco on the occasions when his answers are inadequate. For instance, when asked about whether a dove was killed for real Franco replies that it was an effect. Collins lets it slide, even if his later remark about the incredible verisimilitude of the effect for a low budget film of this age hints at what he really thinks and what is patently apparent to the viewer.
The alternative "clothed sequence", reminiscent of that included on the Zombie Lake DVD, presents a nudity free version of the opening S&M act. As an illustration of the practices of the film's producers, the notorious Eurocine, it's a worthwhile addition, though hard-core Franco fans will probably want more given the various alternate cuts of the film in existence. (Ignoring the financial and logistical realities, Franco's films present an ideal test case for the branching possibilities of the DVD medium to show the plethora of versions that exist with a film like this.)
Really, however, any criticisms are minor ones. Franco enthusiasts will lap this disc up and Synapse are to be congratulated for it.
A trailer, stills gallery and well-written liner notes from Tim "Video Watchdog" Lucas round of the stated package nicely, with an Easter Egg as an additional bonus: On the special thanks menu, highlight Franco's name and press enter for a videotaped interview with Franco and Romay taken from 2000 festival appearance.
Exorcism is not a DVD for everyone. But for the Franco fan it's invaluable.
Copyright © K H Brown 2002-2005
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