By Melissa Antoinette Garza
After just watching LADY FRANKENSTEIN (1971), I decided to stick with Paul Muller. Though his role is a small one, it is a quite memorable performance in an already spectacular film.
VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD (1973) the film opens with Christina (Christina von Blanc) going to a small inn on the way to meet members of her family for the reading of her father’s will. Her mother died when she was only 6 months old and she never met her dad.
Once at the inn, she asks about her Uncle Howard’s (Howard Vernon) estate. The innkeeper gets immediately unnerved and tells Christina that no one lives there and that it is best to steer clear.
Later the words of the innkeeper and the heat of the night air awakens her from a nightmare. She gets up to walk around and in the common area she sees a female doctor (Nicole Guettard) sitting at a table. She asks the doc why the innkeeper would tell her that no one lived at the mansion. The doc says not to fret and to continue with her plan.
A mute man named Basilio (Jesús Franco) soon arrives holding a telegram from her Uncle. She leaves immediately excited about the journey. On the drive up she notices birds of prey which are uncommon for the area. She comments on how strange it is to see them in the valley. The lack of vibrant colors to the plant-life and the peculiar, unpleasant aroma in the air disturbs her, but still she continues optimistically on her way to see the fam.
Upon arriving, she finds Uncle Howard playing piano. They share pleasantries and say the customary Nice to meet you. Christina is startled when she kisses her Uncle’s forehead and notices he’s ice cold. She’s put off even further when she finds out, her father’s wife, Armenia is dying. Her Uncle seems nonchalant and emotionless about it which baffles her.
Next, Howard introduces her to the stunning Carmencé (Carmen Yazalde). Christina asks how Carmencé is related, but is told nothing else than she is family. When Christina goes to kiss Carmencé on the cheek, she turns to get a quick smack on the lips. When asked why, her response is simply “because.” She then takes a few puffs on a cigarette and feigns a coughing fit.
Upstairs to tend to the ailing Armenia, she runs into her Aunt Abigail (Rosa Palomar) who is in the room, but not really there. Christina tries to make small talk before going Armenia, but Abigail is off in her own world.
Christina goes to her step mother’s side and the ill Armenia gets out a few final words before passing, “run ….run away.”
The service the family holds for her is strange to say the least. Howard plays the piano with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, Carmencé paints her toe nails. The family sings and chants while mute Basilio sticks out his tongue a bit in order to participate the best he can.
Trying to relax a bit, Christina takes a wonderful nude nap, but is interrupted by Basilio who waves a dead bird in front of her. Immediately after that ordeal, she meets a woman by the name of Linda (Linda Hastreiter). Linda says though she is blind she can see that Christina has a white soul and want to help her. She offers to pray for her every night.
As she stays longer, odder things occur. No one ever eats and when asked about it they just break out into laughter. She decides to go for a quick skinny-dip when some old pervs start peeping. If you’ve read other sexploitation reviews I’ve written, you may notice if the characters are attractive that I refer to them as voyeuristic and if they’re not I call them creepy pervs. I’m aware of that. I’ve thought about it. I stand by it.
For example, yummy Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien) watching Dr. Frankfurter’s (Tim Curry) sexcapades with Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarrandon) is the most delightful thing ever – a very desirable scenario indeed! Contrastingly, these sick weirdos watching Christina need a beat down because they’re ugly and gross.
When these pervs start creeping on Christina, a young man (Antonio de Cabo)tries to be a gent though definitely loses points when he tells her not to show her ass. Christina has a nice everything and can show it whenever she wants!
The guy follows her home which Howard freaks out over. He sends the boy away and then slaps Christina hard. She runs right into a room where a laughing vampy Carmencé is licking blood off a zombie Linda. They’re not vampires, but they may as well be. Carmencé is nice enough to invite Christina in for a good time.
Go Christina! Go play with them!
Sorry, inner thoughts typing away again. Christina (thankfully for the viewers) stays and watches the show for a bit, but disappointingly opts not to taste. Carmencé does try again when she teases Christina about having a naughty dream. She wasn’t. She was having a nightmare about her dead father. Nonetheless, Carmencé looks amazing in knee high, white tight and a red shirt left unbuttoned revealing her beautiful breasts. Though the two don’t make love, later we do get a treat of Carmencé writhing on the floor, bringing herself to climax as Howie plays the piano and Christina watches on. Basilio is there too enjoying it, but I personally wish it was just the ladies. Christina would have joined had it just been them. I like to think so anyways.
Christina rests naked again only to be awoken and finds a large dildo called the ebony phallus left for her. Linda is sitting in the corner watching on and gets upset when Christina gets up and smacks the sex toy around a bit. It has spiritual meaning, but even if it didn’t – that’s no way to treat a dildo.
It is only at the conclusion that Paul Muller appears in the movie. He’s Christina’s dead father, Ernesto Pablo Reiner and he shows up with a noose around his neck. He returns to warn her to leave the house. He delivers some outstanding and admittedly campy dialogue that nicely fills a few holes. We also learn of an entity known as The Queen of Night that is the driving force behind all of what occurs.
Jesús Franco brought us one helluva sexy ride with this flick. It’s naughty and fun and tempting. It does an amazing job bringing the viewer on the experience with Christina. Her curiosity and the feelings of lust she has for Carmencé are completely relatable.
Both Christina von Blanc and Carmen Yazalde rock it out of the park in this one. The entire cast is fantastic, but these two women own the production.
The conclusion is especially raw, but not excessively gratuitous or completely unexpected. Still, it’s crazy and wild.
This has been hanging around YOUTUBE for a year so if you don’t’ have the disc, enjoy it while it stays free.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
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