Another of Sarno's occult-themed erotic films, this is not one of his great successes, although it is watchable and does have its moments. The very abrupt editing, some poor performances, and the rather uninspired plot twists betray that Sarno was pretty much marking time. In fact, the empowering earrings idea is taken straight from his first film. There's a little more groping and nudity than usual, and some oddly affecting echoes of Bergman's "Persona", which was released in the same year. It's no surprise that the director was soon off to Sweden to refresh his significant well of talent.
2 Reviews
Sarno melodrama, companion film to 'Skin Deep in Love'
lor_7 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
In his prime Joe Sarno famously cranked out films with dizzying regularity, approaching a one per month peak. The scripts and casts often merge into one long fever-dream of a movie, and in this case THE SEX CYCLE elaborates on material already delivered as SKIN DEEP IN LOVE.
Joanna Mills is the innocent heroine in both pictures, previously cast under the spell of a magician's assistant Tanya, played by Carla Desmond. This time she's a model named Janet for artist Tanya, played by Monique Drevon -even the character name of the antagonist is retained. (Desmond is back in the cast but only in a minor capacity, playing a prostitute).
Mrs. Sarno is the plot catalyst, portraying a fortune teller at the Cocoa Poodle night club, who offers Janet a Devil's bargain: magical earrings. Mrs. Sarno gives us a lecture on familiars right out of the future novel THE GOLDEN COMPASS -too bad someone with the talent of Sarno wasn't assigned to direct the screen version of that fantasy classic.
An eerie back-lit scene has two topless women in masks appearing when Janet first tries on the earrings; this is the start of much lesbian sex to come.
Pretty soon Janet is bossing everybody around, as a result of her new magical powers. Film is scored at this point to a rock & roll beat, which doesn't work well, though sex scenes sport the trademark "suspenseful percussion" Sarno sound.
Key scene has Mrs. Sarno showing up to move in with Janet & Tanya, ready to claim what is due her, typical of all Faustian bargains. In the all-girl troilism that follows, Monique as Tanya shows her impressively large, dark nipples. Sarno hired her in many films during the late '60s, but per IMDb she didn't work for any other directors (unlike Mrs. Sarno, whose starring roles like JUSTINE and in DEATH OF A NYMPHETTE were for others).
Janet becomes a bad influence, using Tanya's home to invite over all sorts of people to have illicit sex there. This cues a key subplot of Sal (Victor Bertini) trying to protect his young sister from her clutches.
SPOILER ALERT:
A nasty finale has Mrs. Sarno giving a second set of earrings to Tanya, as both Janet and the audience know that pure evil is in store for her, with previous ecstasy turning into torment.
Mrs. Sarno makes a terrific heavy, and the rest of the cast is effective.
Joanna Mills is the innocent heroine in both pictures, previously cast under the spell of a magician's assistant Tanya, played by Carla Desmond. This time she's a model named Janet for artist Tanya, played by Monique Drevon -even the character name of the antagonist is retained. (Desmond is back in the cast but only in a minor capacity, playing a prostitute).
Mrs. Sarno is the plot catalyst, portraying a fortune teller at the Cocoa Poodle night club, who offers Janet a Devil's bargain: magical earrings. Mrs. Sarno gives us a lecture on familiars right out of the future novel THE GOLDEN COMPASS -too bad someone with the talent of Sarno wasn't assigned to direct the screen version of that fantasy classic.
An eerie back-lit scene has two topless women in masks appearing when Janet first tries on the earrings; this is the start of much lesbian sex to come.
Pretty soon Janet is bossing everybody around, as a result of her new magical powers. Film is scored at this point to a rock & roll beat, which doesn't work well, though sex scenes sport the trademark "suspenseful percussion" Sarno sound.
Key scene has Mrs. Sarno showing up to move in with Janet & Tanya, ready to claim what is due her, typical of all Faustian bargains. In the all-girl troilism that follows, Monique as Tanya shows her impressively large, dark nipples. Sarno hired her in many films during the late '60s, but per IMDb she didn't work for any other directors (unlike Mrs. Sarno, whose starring roles like JUSTINE and in DEATH OF A NYMPHETTE were for others).
Janet becomes a bad influence, using Tanya's home to invite over all sorts of people to have illicit sex there. This cues a key subplot of Sal (Victor Bertini) trying to protect his young sister from her clutches.
SPOILER ALERT:
A nasty finale has Mrs. Sarno giving a second set of earrings to Tanya, as both Janet and the audience know that pure evil is in store for her, with previous ecstasy turning into torment.
Mrs. Sarno makes a terrific heavy, and the rest of the cast is effective.
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