BIZARRE LUST OF A SEXUAL DEVIANT

A young woman (Nos) enters her home and prepares herself for an evening shower. That is, until well-dressed Scott (Jason Christ, THE UNDERTOW) enters from behind and smothers her face with chloroform. A struggle ensues, the pair becoming soaked beneath the shower's sprays. The woman finally gives in and collapses unconscious. Scott admires her naked form, before copping a feel of her very attractive breasts.

In a fit of guilt and confusion, Scott shakes his head while undressing and cowers into the corner of the shower sobbing. As he struggles with his addiction, the woman awakes and leans over him seductively. Scott wakes up on his settee. Ah, it was all just a well-lit, highly stylised nightmare!

Once the nice black-and-white credits are through, we're back to colour, and back in Scott's world. We see the chubby loser going about his lonely life - drinking beer and eating junk food alone in front of the TV.

But Scott has a hobby, and we soon see him in action ... breaking in to a girl's appartment and chloroforming her as she prepares for a shower. Only this time, unlike his dream, Scott has the good sense to wear a ski mask, albeit one that virtually reveals his entire face. Dragging the woman through to her lounge, Scott fondles her shoulders then takes a few photographs of her in various positions.

Later, when the woman wakes, she rings a friend and explains how she last remembers preparing for a shower, and cannot recall how she managed to get to the lounge starkers. Events take an even more sinister turn when she uncovers a photograph from underneath her settee. She rings the police immediately and reports a break-in.

A TV interview with a local detective follows, revealing that police are on the look-out for an intruder who has been knocking his female victims out and molesting them ...

Meanwhile, it's business as usual for Scott. He gets up and begins getting ready for his first day at a new job. But something is troubling Scott, and he calls in sick. Instead of working, Scott relaxes with a few beers and a photograph of Angie, his ex-wife.

Later, Scott rings Angie asking to meet with her. He leaves a lengthy, emotional plea on her answer-phone.

Scott is a broken man - lonely and socially inept. His attempts to maintain a normal life are further compounded when his employer calls advising that his job has been given to someone else. Scott vents his frustration on himself, slashing himself mutiple times with broken glass in the bathtub.

But, as with all sexual deviants, when the chips are really down the only thing that can pick Scott up is a bit of intruding and groping. And so, the aimless story carries on ...

BIZARRE LUST OF A SEXUAL DEVIANT is not a bad film, but is a wildly uneven one. The story is flimsy and cobbled together purely to link one kinky softcore scene to the next. And, at only 70 minutes in length, there really should be no need for the amount of lengthy padding scenes evident.

However, the episodic nature of the film is understandable when you consider the film's history. Sub Rosa's first ever picture, BIZARRE LUST was originally intended as a fetish video - it's only recently that the movie has been revisited and additional scenes with storyline and characterisation have been added.

There are good things to point out. Christ's performance is convincing - at once pathetic, sympathetic and creepy. There's also a lot of attractive naked female flesh on offer, and despite the padding scenes things do move along relatively well.

The twist ending is a cringe-inducing afterthought, but at least it provides - along with the bathtub scene - some minor gore for those wanting a bit of horror out of all of this.

The movie looks good, shot in full-frame on digital camera. It's quite cinematic in parts (the bathtub scene, the opening nightmare), and director Zert Sineca has an eye for a well-framed shot.

Sub Rosa's DVD handles the digital transfer well, with nice vivid images and colours, and no artefacting. The film is fully uncensored.

The 2.0 audio is efficient.

The disc has static menus and the main feature can be accessed via 12 chapters.

In terms of extras, we get a decent commentary track from Christ. He opens by confessing that he only viewed the final cut of the film one day before recording the commentary!

Christ speaks about his role a lot, and praises the other cast members (who also include SCRAPBOOK's Emily Haack and Eric Stanze). The overall impression though is that Christ doesn't like this film, despite being proud of his own performance.

Next we get a two minute Behind The Scenes featurette, which is too brief to be of any significance. The same can be said of the paltry gallery of 8 stills.

Finally, we're treated to a handful of Sub Rosa trailers, including THE UNDERTOW and the wonderfully titled I SPIT ON YOUR CORPSE I PISS ON YOUR GRAVE (both reviewed previously by SGM).

Review by Stu Willis