This might be my favourite vehicle for prolific Spanish Director Jess Franco's Al Pereira character (of those I have seen). Antonio Mayans, sometimes billed as Robert Foster, has always struck me as one of the best actors in Franco's stable, and is better than the material sometimes deserves. Not that his professional life is too unpleasant - true to form, he is soon getting very intimate with Lina Romay, either on a desk, or up a tree. Romay is billed as Candy Coster, an acting alias that is marked by her wearing a rarely convincing blonde 'bob' wig. Said wig is probably at its most realistic here (and Romay looks captivating beneath it), so things could be worse.
Franco often shoots his films in the blazing sun, usually on the shores of some incredible beach or featuring some stunning architecture. Occasionally, like here, he will shoot during what appear to be winter months. 'Eugenie (1973)' and 'The Sadist of Notre Dame (1979)' are also examples of this. Whilst this film doesn't reach those heights, it does nevertheless make good use of Pereira - clandestine meetings, sleazy sex, violence and a fair veil of intrigue all mean that Mayans can make good use of his acting muscles ... as well as his other muscles. The stark seasonal conditions lend the scenes - especially those with Mayans and Romay, who look great together - a sense of picturesque poetry that befits their growing relationship and does beyond the sordid qualities of their initial meetings.
