Malabimba (Uncensored) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

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Malabimba – The Malicious Whore is what would happen if The Exorcist (1973) and Behind The Green Door (1972) had a baby. It’s a sexorcism, if you will. In this uncensored version of the film, blasphemous, hardcore sex is on full frontal display. The script leaves behind plot and character development to show money shots even Ron Jeremy would be proud of. If the movie had been rated, it would have taken the X without a doubt. I hesitate to use the word “fun” in relation to Malabimba, but it is quite an enjoyable film. As sleazy as it feels to watch it, at the same time it is a well made movie. It looks good (note: there are many “versions” of this film; I believe my review covers what is called the Integral Version, in which cut scenes have been re-added, but often appear to be of lower quality), the acting is strong enough for what is needed, and it manages to come across as both sexy and disturbing. Bimba, a sixteen year old daughter of a wealthy family, is starting to show disturbing signs of demonic possession. Lots of shots of luscious Laennec in the altogether indulging in all manner of perversion; Giordano whipping off her wimple and habit to get saucy; and busty blonde Patrizia Webley (as Bimba's nympho aunt Nais) making a couple of the men in the castle very happy chappies indeed: despite the rather mediocre plot, Bianchi's film has more than enough quality sleaze to ensure a good time, with the added explicit footage only making matters even more seedy. The latest Vinegar Syndrome release, Malabimba (aka The Malicious Whore), hits my particular genre sweet spot. The movie is a 1970s-era Eurosleaze, sexploitation film from Italy, AND is a possession horror story that borrows from The Exorcist.

Malabimba – The Malicious Whore in Italian, so you have to watch subtitles to follow what’s going on. This isn’t my issue, however. What bugged me was that the audio did not match up to the video. Mouths were moving to words I heard a second before, which is distracting to say the least. It’s Vinegar Syndrome time again! For March/April 2020, we were a bit spoiled, getting 4 separate Blu-rays to review from the film restoration company. We started with a review of Vin Syn’s Deadline (1980) 2k restoration DVD/Blu-ray (you can read that review here), then we went with James Bryan’s scenery-chewing romp, Hell Riders (1984 – read that review here) with Ulli Lommel’s 1981 sleazy thriller, Olivia (1983 – AKA Prozzie and Double Jeopardy. Read that review here) third. Last but not least, we have Andrea Bianchi’s sex-fueled thriller, MalaBimba – The Malicious Whore (1979).Vinegar Syndrome brings genre fans the definitive home video release of Malabimba with a 2K restoration of the fully uncut and uncensored version of the film. THE MOVIE

Lucrezia attempts to possess Sister Sofia and seduce her by opening her up to sexual desires. Sofia rejects the possession attempt, and Lucrezia ends up finding a more willing host — the 16-year-old daughter of Andrea, Bimba (Katell Laennec). The possession causes a sexual awakening in Bimba. Malabimba Uncovered” - interviews with actress Mariangela Giordano and cinematographer Franco Villa

In the following days the behavior of Bimba radically changes, due to the evil influence of Lucrezia's soul, and several times, she falls prey of the perverse sexual urges of Lucrezia, while unconsciously sheds light on the sexual and perverse vices of her family members. The family members, worried, entrust the girl to the care of Sister Sofia. The relationship between Bimba and Sister Sofia grows more confidential and between them a loving friendship is born. But in reality Bimba, subjugated by the soul of Lucrezia, sexually tempts the nun into a downward spiral of unspeakable debauchery. Writing horror books and movies can mess with your mind almost as much as watching them, apparently, and writer Steven Lessey knows all about it. Stressed by his latest deadline — one that eludes him as he tries to shift away from genre efforts — he begins hallucinating until the line between what’s real and what’s not blurs past the point of no return. One character among this crazy genre film stands out, and she’s not even possessed or a target for being possessed. Nais (Patrizia Webley) is the wife of Adolfo, by her admission essentially single for five years and yearning for a sexual partner. She’s overtly sexual and in control of every situation. She’s the least affected by what’s happening to Bimba because she’s understanding of a woman exploring her sexual side. The release includes a new 2K restoration, a reversible cover, a sleeve with additional artwork (limited only), and the following extras:

Directed by Andrea Bianchi, the man who also gave us the hilariously trashy Italian zombie classic Burial Ground and the magnificently sleazy giallo Strip Nude for Your Killer, Malabimba is a fairly humdrum tale of possession, clearly inspired by The Exorcist but given a massive shot in the arm by the presence of some serious Euro-babeage and the inclusion of several very steamy scenes, some of which even enter XXX territory thanks to the use of hardcore insert shots.

Little more than well made soft-core erotica with a slight bend towards horror. Superb camera work(..two cinematographers contributed)and an ideal setting(..a wonderfully atmospheric isolated castle monastery on a hill)provide this film with some class despite the trashy premise and characters. The possessed Bimba (Laennec) goes from a naive, protected young girl to a sex-starved sadist who kills her Uncle Adolfo (Giuseppe Marracco) with a blowjob. Nothing is safe from her wandering fingers. Even though Laennec was only 19 at time time, she performed all of her own “stunts,” even those starring her favorite teddy bear, a Christmas elf with quite a large, bulbous nose or her uncle’s penis. This movie works for two reasons. The first is the director Andreas Bianchi who, though far less prolific, was a lot like Spanish auteur Jesus Franco in his ability to take irredeemably sleazy material like this and make it somehow oddly watchable. Bianchi's work includes "What the Peeper Saw" which offered the unusual pairing of Swedish sex kitten Britt Ekland and the kid from "Oliver", scuzzy giallo favorite "Strip Nude for Your Killer" where the usually classy Edwige Fenech simulated both oral and anal sex (not surprisingly, it's the only recent DVD release she hasn't provided any commentary for), and his follow-up to this film "Burial Ground" again with Giordano who this time gets her latex nipple bitten off by a strange-looking dwarf who is supposed to be her zombified son. Which brings me to the second reason:the infamous Mariangela Giordano. Although she is sometimes labeled a "scream queen" this label doesn't really fit Giordano as she was an actress for twenty-five years in Italian genre films before she ever started doing nude sex scenes in sleazy horror movies like this in her early 40's (during her marriage to producer Crisanti). She proved so good at it though that even years later when she appeared in Michael Soavi's "The Sect" she has a scene as the world's sexiest 53-year-old naked corpse! But besides having a virtually un-aging body, she was a pretty decent actress. It is a testament to her thespian abilities that this sultana of sleaze is even remotely believable as a nun. (And if her initial seduction by the possessed teenager seems amazing just wait around for the "exorcism").