Recently I reviewed Massimo Dallamano’s The Night Child – an aesthetically cheerful Exorcist knock off – now from the same director we have a different proposition in Super Bitch.
I know. What a fantastic title. The pleasures seem boundless from such a title. Although the film’s original English title Blue Movie Blackmail does make a lot more sense in terms of conveying the plot. This time Dallamano tackles international espionage and criminal organisations with a story that could have been a potential Bond plot, with less sexy results. Ivan Rassimov stars as an undercover officer who plays to gangs off against each other. One being a high end escort agency dealing in blackmail of government officials. The other a gang of Turkish drug dealers is led by Mama, played with glee by Patricia Hayes (who you may remember as the elderly lady with the dogs from A Fish Called Wanda). Mama is your average patriarch who kills with ease, enjoys high speed chases with the police and loves her children. Also key to the plot is top escort Joanne played by Stephanie Beacham who is at the centre of the blackmail plot and then a kidnap plot (there are a surprising number of plot strands). Joanne ends up falling for Ivan, or he for her, and seems to be the Super Bitch of the title. The poster suggests the “Super Bitch” will do anything to get what she wants. In this regard Joanne is actually quite pleasant as expensive, entrapping escorts go. She’s surprisingly vulnerable and has a back story that seems far more interesting than the film gives credit. Super Bitch is a film built around discussions of double dealings, some action scenes and good bit of casual 70s nudity. Mama would be a more appropriate recipient of the Super Bitch title, but I suppose distributors can’t really plaster Patricia Hayes on DVD boxes in a seductive pose.
Super Bitch is surprisingly well put together film. The expensive London locations look great and the plot spans across Europe to New York. But ultimately it takes itself just a little too seriously. Ivan Rassimov is Yojimbo-esque figure which could have given way to a knowing grin here and there to let us in on the fun of playing off both sides. Instead he plays it so cool that he rarely registers an emotional response. Hayes on the other hand adds a more camp touch which suits the film. She gives a widely over-the-top performance that comes across as fun rather than misplaced. Beacham too seems to be more knowing of the films more ridiculous aspects, especially in a scene where she has to dress like a rabbit in a clients fetish games. But she still brings both a sympathetic and vicious streak to Joanne.
As with The Night Child, Dallamano has made a beautiful looking film. Although slow and bogged down in un-engaging criminal conversations in places Super Bitch is enjoyable enough thriller that should be seen by more on the strength of it’s performances. If it has pushed further toward out-and-out action fun it could have been a classic 70s romp.
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