Blu Release – 3.5/5
Eva Man
Director – Antonio D’Agostino (The Ceremony of the Senses, Fashion Movie)
Starring – Eva Robins (Tenebrae, Hercules), Ajita Wilson (Macumba Sexual, Hotel Paradise), and Ramon Centenero (Chocolate, Confessions of a Congressman)
Release Date – 1980
Rating – 3/5
I’m no stranger to sexploitation especially the sexploitation and erotica from Italy. While I’ve only been reviewing these type of films for about a decade, there is still plenty of them that I’ve never seen. A few weeks back I was sent over the Eva Man double feature from my friends over at Mondo Macabro.
Eva Man is an erotic action comedy from 1980 Italy starring trailblazer Eva Robin’s (that is how it’s really spelled). I had never seen this one before and couldn’t wait to see what kind of batshit crazy fun I was about to get into. I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for me to check out.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Eva (Robin’s) who is a hermaphrodite with a scientific device planted inside her to make her more potent sexually. Eva’s sexual conquests eventually reaches the ears of an impotent crime boss who wishes to kidnap Eva so he cant obtain her magical genitalia for his own needs. **Spoiler Alert**
Eva Man and it’s sequel were completely knew to me. I recalled getting the press release for these films previously but didn’t really remember a lot about them. However, after I watched the film and started working on my review I quickly realized that these films, along with Eva Robin’s and Ajita Wilson, were revolutionary especially for their time. Boutique labels are important for many reasons especially in regards to preserving physical media but one of their biggest reasons in existing is to bring obscure films to the masses. This is a huge release from Mondo Macabro and I’m glad they took it on. The film is absolutely wild and a lot of fun especially for what it is.
The acting in this one is inconsistent with some high and lows. Eva steals the show. She is so charismatic in front of the camera. Ajita is is great in front of the camera as well but some of the scenes doesn’t have the same energy as the others. The supporting cast is nowhere near as fun as these two and don’t bring the charisma like these two ladies. The scenes need one of these two to work which is a bit of a shame.
The story for this one is a sexploitation gold mine that still blows my mind. I’ve lived in the U.S. my entire life and never traveled abroad but I have enough sense to know that the outside world is more open than most of those in America. I can only assume the said can be said about the world during the late 1970s and early 80s or this film would have never found footing. Here we are, 40 some years later, and many here in the states would never be open to check this one out now. That’s a bummer because this story is raw sexploitation that is a lot of fun. While I would have loved a little more of Eva and Ajita outside of the sex scenes but I’m not stupid enough to forget what I was watching. It’s sexy, funny, and chaotic but all in a good way. Like most sexploitation films, the sex scenes are not my main focus and usually throw the pacing of the film off for me. The film is an even mix of sex scenes and story so fans of sexploitation cinema who really enjoy the sex will really love this one.
Finally, no real effects for genre fans to marvel at. The film is all wild story and skin. If you want blood, gore, or visual effects then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Eva Man is not for those that are closed minded or not open to films that are a bit different. I’m comfortable enough in my sexuality to enjoy this one. From that aside, it’s an important piece of queer cinema that really needs to be in any movie lover’s collection. Check out the release from Mondo Macabro now!
Return of Eva Man
Director(s) – Zacarias Urbiola (A Dragonfly for Each Corpse, House of Psychotic Women) and Antonio D’Agostino (Eva Man, The Ceremony of the Senses)
Starring – Eva Robin’s (Hercules, Tenebrae), Ajita Wilson (Hell Behind the Bars, Passionate Lovers), and Ramon Centenero (The Night of the Werewolf, The Dracula Saga)
Release Date – 1982
Rating – 3/5
I was not expecting the wild ride that Mondo Macabro was going to send me on when they sent over the Eva Man double feature. These two films were new to me and I had no idea how important they were in the world of cinema and exploitation at the time. However, after finishing the first film and working on the review I quickly learned that this film was very important to movie history which only made me even more excited for the sequel. Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review!
**Spoiler Alert** The film once again follows Eva (Robbin’s), the professor, and her friend as they fight and evade a group of criminals who are after them. The professor used the technology from the first film to create a ray gun that when fired at someone awakens intense sexual desire. **Spoiler Alert**
Return of Eva Man, or El Regreso de Eva Man, is another wild film that does a decent enough job at furthering the already crazy story from the film film. While it does take the same formula from the first film and makes small changes, those changes are just enough to make it work. It’s not going to win people over like the first film but it is still a lot of fun.
The acting in this one is consistent with the first film. Robbin’s and Wilson make the film. Their charisma and personality makes every scene they are in. The supporting cast is solid for the most part but it’s these two ladies that makes these two films as fun as they are.
The story for this one is essentially the same as the first film with a few minor changes. Both films follows a group of bad guys chasing Eva for different sexual reasons. It’s obvious they took what made the first film work and rush it into production while the iron was still hot so to speak. It doesn’t give us something new but it’s still a solid sequel with some laughs.
Finally, no blood or guns in this one. We get some skin, some laughs, and that’s about the extent of it. Overall, Return of Eva Man is no as historic as the original but it still deserves a watch. It’s not that original but still entertaining. Check it out.
Special Features:
Brand new 2k restorations for both films
Spanish language with optional Eng subtitles
Brand new interview with star Eva Robin’s
Brand new audio commentary by Willow Catelyn Maclay and Caden Mark Gardner
Brand new interview with Eurocult expert Alex Mendíbil on the career of Ajita Wilson
Brand new visual essay on director Antonio D’Agostino by Ian Higbee
Brand new interview with sound recordist Luciano Muratori
Brand new interview with cinematographer Hans Burmann
‘Metamorfosi’ – a short film by Antonio D’Agostino
