(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and/or characters. If you’re the type of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last few paragraphs for the final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
From the film’s IMDB.com page citation:
“Near the end of WW2, prisoners of war are used in experiments to perfect the "Aryan" race.”
Mind you: I’m no prude.
In point of fact, I’ve watched a great deal of exploitation cinema, some of it by choice and others owed to being offered a new release via a distributor relationship. There’s a good number of titles that deserve a second look – both historically and critically – for if nothing else inspiring a trend and/or attempting to do some novel, creative, or thematic with its subject matter. This isn’t to say that exploitation – as a subset to several major genres – needs any kind of cultural overhaul: rather, it’s clarifying that – on some occasions – some talented storytellers and their associated talent did try to accomplish something greater than spilling blood, flashing breasts, and igniting the viewer’s deepest and darkest passions … for better or worse.
However, SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) just isn’t one of them.
Mirelle (played by Paola Corazzi) and a cadre of equally attractive women have been captured by the Nazis and hauled off to a secret concentration camp under command of Col. von Kleiben (Giorgio Cerioni). There, the colonel orders his men on break from the Eastern Front to participate in an array of sexual experiments meant to seek out and explore mating habits of the Aryan male. All of the research is under control of Dr. Renke (Patrizia Melega) and the somewhat reluctant Dr. Steiner (Attilio Dottesio), a Jewish refugee who has disguised himself as a German scientist. But von Kleiben hides a secret goal – one he has hidden away from prying eyes – which might just prove to be not only the death of him but also the end to this particular brand of Nazi terrorism!
Oy.
From the film’s IMDB.com page citation:
“Near the end of WW2, prisoners of war are used in experiments to perfect the "Aryan" race.”
Mind you: I’m no prude.
In point of fact, I’ve watched a great deal of exploitation cinema, some of it by choice and others owed to being offered a new release via a distributor relationship. There’s a good number of titles that deserve a second look – both historically and critically – for if nothing else inspiring a trend and/or attempting to do some novel, creative, or thematic with its subject matter. This isn’t to say that exploitation – as a subset to several major genres – needs any kind of cultural overhaul: rather, it’s clarifying that – on some occasions – some talented storytellers and their associated talent did try to accomplish something greater than spilling blood, flashing breasts, and igniting the viewer’s deepest and darkest passions … for better or worse.
However, SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) just isn’t one of them.
Mirelle (played by Paola Corazzi) and a cadre of equally attractive women have been captured by the Nazis and hauled off to a secret concentration camp under command of Col. von Kleiben (Giorgio Cerioni). There, the colonel orders his men on break from the Eastern Front to participate in an array of sexual experiments meant to seek out and explore mating habits of the Aryan male. All of the research is under control of Dr. Renke (Patrizia Melega) and the somewhat reluctant Dr. Steiner (Attilio Dottesio), a Jewish refugee who has disguised himself as a German scientist. But von Kleiben hides a secret goal – one he has hidden away from prying eyes – which might just prove to be not only the death of him but also the end to this particular brand of Nazi terrorism!
Oy.
Now, as I said, I’m no prude; and, yes, Love Camp wallowed for decades I’m learned with a controversial reception around the world (especially so in Great Britain). Censors in several European countries banned the flick’s release (back in its original release timeframe), a development that actually increased the film’s potential to become an underground fascination. Indeed, these Nazi bastards – dubbed ‘Nasties’ by some – do engage in a great deal of torment, all of which gets inflicted upon some lovely, naked subjects; and, yes, a fair amount of it turns out to be sexual degradation (i.e. rape and other non-consensual acts). Still, in fairness to writer/director Sergio Garrone, I found the vast majority of it very tame, especially by comparison to what I’ve watched elsewhere, which didn’t even rise to the level of censorship (though still deemed controversial content by many).
Perhaps a greater degree of scrutiny was applied to Love Camp because – to Garrone’s credit – the feature possesses the bare bones of a narrative story.
As fate would have it, the devious von Kleiben was neutered (quite literally) in his past when he tried to have his way with what I believe was a Jewish girl (she disguises her willingness to submit long enough to bite off his … erm … manhood); and he’s secretly conscripted Steiner to monitor the endless string of visiting soldiers for a libido replacement. Helmut (Mircha Carven) is assigned to the secret base for a few days, and – after careful examination – Steiner concludes that … erm … this unfortunate man’s testicles could be a suitable replacement. Since the soldier has fallen head-over-heels for his assigned mate Mirelle – who reciprocates because movie love is always ‘love at first site,’ even with a Nazi – the young man is happy to do all he can to stay near her. Little does he know that his inevitable sacrifice will make him entirely incapable of satisfying her carnal desires.
Garrone frames a fair portion of the action around these curious triangle, giving his audience minimally a chance to invest in these characters and their respective relationships. While it isn’t delivered with any great degree of theatrics, each talent does what he or she can with the material; and, thankfully, Helmut and Mirelle’s coupling is staged in such a way to suggest that their sex isn’t forceful nor degrading. Though they’re surrounded on all sides by assault and depravity, their spark is meant to be authentic, suggesting that sometimes even in madness some humanity might prevail. Sure, that’s a pretty hefty message for exploitation, but it’s there, nonetheless.
Of course, the problem lies in the fact that – ahem – none of these players are really all that gifted as Thespians, no insult intended. Second and third tier actors and actresses were drawn to such assignments, and stronger players were required to elevate even these slim pickings to the point wherein audiences might wish our young couple a chance to make it in the wide, wide world beyond this Socialist hellscape. Theirs is a love that wasn’t meant to be; and – as a consequence – it gets destroyed in glorious fashion before the end credits roll.
Perhaps a greater degree of scrutiny was applied to Love Camp because – to Garrone’s credit – the feature possesses the bare bones of a narrative story.
As fate would have it, the devious von Kleiben was neutered (quite literally) in his past when he tried to have his way with what I believe was a Jewish girl (she disguises her willingness to submit long enough to bite off his … erm … manhood); and he’s secretly conscripted Steiner to monitor the endless string of visiting soldiers for a libido replacement. Helmut (Mircha Carven) is assigned to the secret base for a few days, and – after careful examination – Steiner concludes that … erm … this unfortunate man’s testicles could be a suitable replacement. Since the soldier has fallen head-over-heels for his assigned mate Mirelle – who reciprocates because movie love is always ‘love at first site,’ even with a Nazi – the young man is happy to do all he can to stay near her. Little does he know that his inevitable sacrifice will make him entirely incapable of satisfying her carnal desires.
Garrone frames a fair portion of the action around these curious triangle, giving his audience minimally a chance to invest in these characters and their respective relationships. While it isn’t delivered with any great degree of theatrics, each talent does what he or she can with the material; and, thankfully, Helmut and Mirelle’s coupling is staged in such a way to suggest that their sex isn’t forceful nor degrading. Though they’re surrounded on all sides by assault and depravity, their spark is meant to be authentic, suggesting that sometimes even in madness some humanity might prevail. Sure, that’s a pretty hefty message for exploitation, but it’s there, nonetheless.
Of course, the problem lies in the fact that – ahem – none of these players are really all that gifted as Thespians, no insult intended. Second and third tier actors and actresses were drawn to such assignments, and stronger players were required to elevate even these slim pickings to the point wherein audiences might wish our young couple a chance to make it in the wide, wide world beyond this Socialist hellscape. Theirs is a love that wasn’t meant to be; and – as a consequence – it gets destroyed in glorious fashion before the end credits roll.
If you haven’t guessed it already, then let me spell out clearly that – even as exploitation goes – there’s vastly more entertaining stuff out there waiting for consumption; and Love Camp – even with its curious controversies – isn’t quite up for the challenge it lays out. There’s a curious absence of what these Nazis were attempting here – if it’s to expand the Socialist state with newborns, then why are all of these women summarily executed? – and I refuse to accept that it was all intended to restore von Kleiben’s ‘mini me.’ Though a few sequences suggest Garrone (and his other scripters) were mildly interested in sex and intercourse as a practice, there’s just no central explanation for what how they believed rape was the key to the Aryan future, making this whole affair entirely forgettable.
SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) was produced by Società Europea Films Internazionali Cinematografica (SEFI). DVD distribution (for this particular release) has been coordinated by the fine folks at 88 Films. As for the technical specifications? While I’m no trained video expert, I can assure readers that the film looks very good but sounds a bit tinny in a few spots. Again, I think it’s easy to conclude that any significant deficiencies are likely owed to inferior sources. Lastly, if you’re looking for special features? Well … wow! There’s an impressive number of extras on here – including an audio commentary that’s informative – and a good deal of it relates more toward exploitation than it does film-specific. (There is plenty to learn, so don’t be put off by that statement.) There’s even a solid collector’s booklet included that’s a great read.
Alas … this one is truly Hard To Recommend … except for those who might be completist about socialist-inspired (soft) pornography.
Erm … is it just me, or does anyone else find it highly hypocritical of the Italians – of all people – to venture into the world of Nazi exploitation filmmaking? I mean … weren’t they in on all of that stuff back during World War II? Seems to me as though that was what I remember from history class; and even though my teacher never covered the subject matter of SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) one would think that wiser minds might’ve prevailed on behalf of the Italians. Whatever the truth may be, Sergio Garrone’s film isn’t so much a mess as it is endlessly messy, never quite clarifying what all of the hubbub in here was about much less precisely where these Aryans thought such “science” might take them. This was a far cry from developing the V2 – which might’ve given them a fighting chance – unless it was Germany’s intent to flood the territories of their enemies with prostitutes.
In the interest of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at 88 Films provided me with a complimentary 4K UltraHD Blu-ray of SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) by request for the expressed purpose of completing this review. Their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.
-- EZ
SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) was produced by Società Europea Films Internazionali Cinematografica (SEFI). DVD distribution (for this particular release) has been coordinated by the fine folks at 88 Films. As for the technical specifications? While I’m no trained video expert, I can assure readers that the film looks very good but sounds a bit tinny in a few spots. Again, I think it’s easy to conclude that any significant deficiencies are likely owed to inferior sources. Lastly, if you’re looking for special features? Well … wow! There’s an impressive number of extras on here – including an audio commentary that’s informative – and a good deal of it relates more toward exploitation than it does film-specific. (There is plenty to learn, so don’t be put off by that statement.) There’s even a solid collector’s booklet included that’s a great read.
Alas … this one is truly Hard To Recommend … except for those who might be completist about socialist-inspired (soft) pornography.
Erm … is it just me, or does anyone else find it highly hypocritical of the Italians – of all people – to venture into the world of Nazi exploitation filmmaking? I mean … weren’t they in on all of that stuff back during World War II? Seems to me as though that was what I remember from history class; and even though my teacher never covered the subject matter of SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) one would think that wiser minds might’ve prevailed on behalf of the Italians. Whatever the truth may be, Sergio Garrone’s film isn’t so much a mess as it is endlessly messy, never quite clarifying what all of the hubbub in here was about much less precisely where these Aryans thought such “science” might take them. This was a far cry from developing the V2 – which might’ve given them a fighting chance – unless it was Germany’s intent to flood the territories of their enemies with prostitutes.
In the interest of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at 88 Films provided me with a complimentary 4K UltraHD Blu-ray of SS Experiment Love Camp (1976) by request for the expressed purpose of completing this review. Their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.
-- EZ
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