Director – Eloy de la Iglesia (The Priest, Confessions of a Congressman)
Starring – Javier Escriva (Brigada Central, Obscene Desire), John Moulder-Brown (The Devil in the Fog, Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder), and Inma de Santis (Sonatas, Estudio 1)
Release Date – 1975
Rating – 3/5
Blu Release – 3/5
I’m going to have my hands full with Spanish cinema the next few weeks thanks to some of my favorite boutique labels and I’m really excited for the opportunity to check these out! Not only has my friends over at Severin Films released a fantastic box set of late 60s and early 70s cinema from Spain but my friends over at Mondo Macabro has released a trio of Spanish horror and thrillers from area and era.
I just watched and reviewed Mondo Macabro’s release of I Hate My Body and decided to follow it up with their second release of the the three which is the 1975 dramatic thriller Forbidden Game of Love. Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a young couple who are hitchhiking after classes when their wealthy professor picks them up. He takes them back to his home where he puts them up for the night. The following day they try to leave and he refuses to let them go. He then offers them a proposal. He will provide them with everything they need or want if they promise never to leave. They refuse at first but he has his servant force them to stay. Overtime, the two start to succumb to his torture and brainwashing. **Spoiler Alert**
I’m not well versed on the history of Spain but from what I can gather was that Spain was under fascist rule until the mid-70s. This time, known as Francoist Spain, saw heavy censorship with a lot of the more bold and boundary pushing films getting censored. That is one of the many reasons I’m excited to see these films from the time. Forbidden Game of Love is not the wildest or craziest film I’ve seen but I can only imagine how a conservative government would lose their mind over it.
The acting in this one is very well done. The cast works very well together and bring to life some fantastic characters with their performances. Honestly, I really enjoyed the cast and how each character interacted with one another. It made the film for me.
The story for this one is not as wild as I was expecting but that be due to years of sexploitation has desensitized me. We follow a wealthy man and his rather timid associate/servant as they “torture” and brainwash a young couple. It’s nothing that brutal or extreme by any standards but it’s a solid watch especially with the acting we have.
Finally, the film has some skin but don’t expect it to be a bloody affair like you would expect from most of the films I review. The film is very story rich and character driven. Overall, Forbidden Game of Love is the kind of film that I would never have the chance to enjoy if it wasn’t for companies like Mondo Macabro. It’s a wild film that may seem tame by today’s standards but did get some knickers in a twist at the time, so to speak. I highly recommend checking this one out.
Special Features:
Brand new 4k restoration from negative.
Angel Sala on director Eloy de la Iglesia
