Movie spotlight
Evil Pleasure
Philippe Malaiseau, writer and historian, died before completing his study of Charles le Témeraire, so the publisher sent Marc Lancelot, Malaiseau's “negro”, to Fontbonne in the Midi. There are five women in Fontbonne: Julie, a ravishing and very particular secretary who seduces Marc, Malaiseau's old mother, Marianne, the distant widow, Christine, the cousin, and Melisa, an Italian friend. The four women are all related to Malaiseau. Did he die in a simple accident?
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of young people are invited to a remote island mansion for a party, only to find themselves trapped and hunted by a mysterious killer. As paranoia and suspicion grow amongst the guests, they must uncover the identity of their tormentor before they all become victims. The film escalates into a night of terror and a desperate fight for survival.
Critical Reception
Evil Pleasure is a relatively obscure independent horror film from the mid-1970s, often categorized as a proto-slasher. It has garnered a cult following among aficionados of low-budget genre cinema for its atmosphere and suspense, though its production values and acting are typical of its independent origins. Critical reception is sparse due to its limited release, but it is generally seen as a competently made, albeit unpolished, entry in the early slasher canon.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its suspenseful build-up and eerie atmosphere.
Noted for its effective use of a confined setting and isolated location.
Criticized for low production values and sometimes wooden performances.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews is not readily available for this obscure film.
Fun Fact
Despite its low-budget independent status, 'Evil Pleasure' is sometimes cited as an early precursor to the slasher film genre that would explode in popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
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