10. Beyond the Darkness (1979)
Joe D'Amato directed this prurient but compelling necrophilia tinged extreme horror film. If he had concentrated more on making films like this instead of hardcore porn, his legend could have reached that of Fulci-esque proportions. The film deals with rich boy taxidermist Frank. His weird housekeeper has performed voodoo and killed his fiancee, the love of his life. He is distraught and digs her out of her grave and performs very graphic embalmment on her - the girl is as well preserved as Lenin. He runs into various women whom he tortures and kills in anger at the world. Meanwhile his housekeeper is waiting for him to propose to her, as she has helped him cover up his crimes, and she is one very jealous lady.. Good to watch for the gore parts, if you are that way inclined - Buio Omega (the Italian title) boasts lots of bloody mayhem - the torture and murder of young girls by the deranged Frank. It's not a bad little film, but it is highly graphic and I warn you to watch it only if you have a strong stomach or you are a serious gore hound.
9. The Sister of Ursula (1978)
An absolutely stinking, filthy, sleazeball of a Giallo, The Sister of Ursula is ostensibly about two Austrian sisters who arrive in an Italian town to look for their mother after their father died and left them some money. At the same time, there is a perverted killer running amok, knocking off beautiful ladies. The sex in this film is so extreme it verges on the hardcore. There are naked women, there are naked copulating women, there are naked women engaged in oral sex, there are naked women masturbating. The killer murders women with a dildo. Made at the tail end of the Golden Giallo age, The Sister of Ursula relies heavily on its kinkiness to entice the viewer. Dare you bite the bullet?
8. Venus in Furs (1969)
Based on the novel by Leopold Sacher-Masoch, Massimo Dallamano ably directs this Italian spank fest. Well actually it's a bit stronger than that as Wanda the dominatrix tries to find new ways to sexually humiliate her submissive boyfriend Severin. Cheating on guys and sexually humiliating him, Wanda soon comes to feel contempt for Severin. I have a copy of this film on VHS and the main thing I remember about it was first off, the fabulous soundtrack and then the nice locations. I have also seen a trailer for the film which has a narrator trying to impress us with the significance of this film. I have never seen a piece of Eurotrash take itself so seriously before. Still there is a lot of nudity, straight sex, kinky sex, whippings and other perverted goings on. If you are into SM or curious about it, this adaptation is a nice wee introduction into the world of licking boots.
7. Confessions of Emanuelle (1977)
More Joe D'Amato / Laura Gemser cinematic capers as this time our intrepid heroine investigates the white slave trade. Now that's good exploitation! There is also the globe trotting and much shagging that we expect in an Emanuelle movie. Of course its not an Oscar nominee, it is a slice of 70s Euro cheese - an acquired taste but some of us like that. The film unfolds at a furious pace and this D'Amato Emanuelle outing lacks the serious sleaze of his other Emanuelle films. You will have fun picking out Eurotrash regular actors. Gemser doesn't take part in the main sex scenes and acts haughtily above all that. She was such an established star, she didn't have to take her knickers off as much as the other women in the cast. Boo!
6. Gwendoline (1984)
Directed by king of the softcore porn directors - Just Jaecklin - Gwendoline features the sexy bird who was in the Whitesnake videos - Tawny Kitaen. She stars as Gwendoline who arrives in China in a box. Once she is set free, she is on a mission to find her father who was last seen in the Land of Yik Yak chasing a butterfly. Gwendolines adventures begin.. Jaecklin was not a cheapo soft porn director and a fair bit of money has obviously been spent on this production. There is a lot of lush scenery and plenty of naked, hot looking babes. Gwendoline is based upon an adult cartoon which featured a lot of bondage and domination (B&D) so our heroine is frequently tied up. The acting is horrible and the dubbing is atrocious but this hasn't stopped Gwendoline from developing a firm cult status. Check this out oh lovers of cheesy things!