SS Experiment Love Camp — SS Experiment Love Camp(Blu Ray & UHD)

During the 1970s, Nazi-exploitation- one of the more distasteful, unpleasant, and at times downright nasty sub-genres in exploitation- rose and then fell. SS Experiment Love Camp was part of this cycle. 

And while it wasn’t the most extreme/repugnant film in the genre, it still featured some nasty moments like nude electrocution, female bodies dumped & left to twitch in a furnace, naked inverted crucifixion, etc. It also contains a fair amount of sleaze/ nudity, as well as a decent storyline/selection of characters. Here from 88 Films, as a dual format UHD/Blu-ray release of the film. It takes in a new 4k scan,  a new commentary track, and a few more extras.

SS Experiment Love Camp ( aka Lager SSadis Kastrat Kommandantur, Captive Women II: Orgies of the Damned, SS Experiment Camp) is from the year 1976. It was an Italian production, which was directed by/ co-written by Rome-born Sergio Garrone.  Between the late 60s and early 80’s, he had thirteen features to his name. Going from spaghetti westerns like Three Cross Not To Die (1968), and Django the Bastard (1969). To the mad doctor horror of The Hand That Feeds the Dead(1974), to crime thriller Killer’s Gold(1979), and softcore sexploitation/ drama L'ultimo Harem (1981).

SS Experiment Love Camp starts off with a decidedly shocking pre-credits scene, as we see two nude women executed in an electric chair. One dies fairly quickly to be taken off in a furnace full of twitching nude female bodies, and the other suffers self-urination, before the titles run.

As we get into the film, we find out it’s set in somewhat of a secret camp, where the best nazi soldiers are brought to mate with female prisoners, to carry on the master race. In charge of the camp is blue-eyed & blond-haired Col. von Kleiben(Giorgio Cerioni), who can’t sexually perform. Though more on this later.

Also working in the camp, we have the thin/ grey grey-bearded Dr. Steiner(Attilio Dottesio), who is less than keen on what is going on. Piercing-eyed/  cool disconnected Dr. Renke(Patrizia Melega), who is dedicated/ at times enjoys her work.  And there’s brutish &  boorish thin-moustached Sergeant (Serafino Profumo).

Most of the soldiers and female prisoners are left unnamed/ we don’t get to know anything about them. The only two we get to know a little about are Helmut (Mircha Carven), who is less than keen on what is going on, and Mirelle (Paola Corazzi), who is paired with Helmut, and starts falling for him.

As for the exploitation side of things, we have the already mentioned naked electrocution, several shots of nude twitching bodies in the furnace, a woman boiled then frozen, an off-screen rape, which results in bleeding, shooting, and nude upside down crucifixion- this is used for some of the film's more shocking/provocative poster art for the film. There’s also a fair bit of full frontal/ softcore nudity.

SS Experiment Love Camp runs at around one hour and thirty-five minutes, and for the most part remains engaging enough( for this type of thing). Sure, there are a few moments of lull/boredom, but you know fairly soon either some sleaze, nastiness, or grim drama will come along.

 

This new release takes in a 4k scan- this looks good- with nice clarity and depth, without polishing out the 70’s grain too much.  The English dialogue track and score are well-balanced and even.

On the extras side, we get a good selection of new things. First off is a commentary track from Italian Cinema Experts Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti. They begin by talking about how the film starts strong- letting you know what you're letting yourself into. They talk about how they see the film as a second-tier Nazi-exploitation film- as it’s relatively well made, it has a story, and a proper structure- unlike some of the genre. They discuss the career of director Sergio Garrone- saying he’s best known for his westerns, making a few solid examples of the genre. They compare the Nazi-exploitation and the Women In Prison genres. Discuss the influence on the genre by 1974’s more arty drama The Night Porter, and how it fed into the whole nazi chic.  Later on, they comment on the film's main location, which was also used in westerns, and more. It’s a fine enough track, though they do repeat some observations/ options several times, and one does feel either expert has much love for this exploitation sub-genre.

Otherwise, on the new side, we have: Sadistically Yours, Sergio G.(30.24) Interview with Director Sergio Garrone. SSadist Sound (28.26)  Interview with Music Historian Pierpaolo De Sanctis. The Alibiso Dynasty (25.52) Interview with Editor Eugenio Alabiso. Framing Exploitation(11.42) Interview with Cinematographer Maurizio Centini

Finally, we have Italian Opening and Closing titles, and a trailer. The finished release takes in an inlay booklet with writing by Tim Murray,  and double-sided cover art.

For understandable reasons, the Nazi-exploitation has never been the most reissued of exploitation sub-genres. But if you have a penchant for sleaze, torture, with moments of intense drama, I’d say SS Experiment Love Camp is well worth a look. And this new 88 Films release takes in a good 4k scan, and a nice selection of all-new extras.