I do like this film, however (look at that poster for Christ's sake!) It is a Jess Franco movie. 'Nuff said in my opinion. His direction doesn't exactly guarantee a great film but it does ensure an interesting film. In that sense, "Venus in Furs" does not disappoint. A trumpet player finds a dead girl on a beach in Istanbul. He recognizes her as a girl he saw stripped and tortured at a ritzy party (hosted by Klaus Kinsky!) the night before. He decides to get out of Dodge and takes off for Rio De Janeiro. Right about the time he starts to calm down from the events, Klaus Kinski and a girl who is identical to the dead girl (is it the same girl?) show up at the club in Rio. The trumpet player and the woman fall in love. Then the people who "killed" the woman (or did they?) start turning up dead. So they return to Istanbul. The girl turns out to be dead and he wanders out on the beach again only to find his own body and realize that he, too, is dead.
Story-wise, "Venus in Furs" is weak. It stands out as an example of trashy 70s European atmosphere. If you like surrealism or 70s exploitation, this is for you. If you like mainstream movies or plots that make sense, stay away. I LOVE these kind of movies. I can't get enough of the kaleidoscopic cinematography, the sleaziness of the characters and settings, the strange violence, the nudity. Franco movies are rife with these and "Venus in Furs" brings them together very well. Some Franco movies are violent, some are sexual, some have interesting camerawork. Few have it all and for that reason, "Venus in Furs" is considered by many to be his masterpiece. Franco has directed too many movies (many of which I haven't seen) for me to chime in on that, but it is a strong entry in his oeuvre.
Last thing to mention, the excellent soundtrack by Manfred Mann (what, no Earth Band?). Wonderfully jazzy and really works with a movie about a trumpet player (whose fingering never seems to sync up with the music). Great stuff. I realize that contemporary musicians lend their talents to soundtracks but it seems that collaborations like this are few and far between.
If you're a Franco fan and have somehow missed this movie, go check it out NOW. If you'd like to give Franco movies a try, this is probably the most accessible of his films that I've seen. While the appreciative audience for this movie may be slim, I would recommend it to almost anyone (and maybe upset some folks).
Rating: 7 out of 10
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