SS Helltrain is just one of those films that require the viewer to be a bit more open minded about his entertainment. You will not find any Oscar winning performances here, and given the subject matter, this one would never receive a nod from any film academy, even if it contained brilliant acting by all involved. What 'Helltrain' does have though, among other things, is a hell of a lot of style. Director James Gartner films his above-average Nazi exploit outing as if he actually had some respect for his own work. Featuring some truly inspired dialogue, that entertains and amuses. The film plays for respectable lengths of time without anyone taking off their clothes. The sets are also quite good here, and the Nazi uniforms have seldom looked better. But the thing that really makes 'Helltrain' stand out from the garbage in this genre, has got to be the collection of truly bizarre, and sometimes hilarious characters. There is the SS Captain, played with an evil edge by Eric Muller, who is into some strange but light S&M play. The scene where he rides the countess around the room like a horse is priceless, and some might even say, sexy! Muller is great in the Nazi role, with his chiseled good looks, his silver hair and frightfully big, black eyebrows! But he is not all fun and games as you see at the films satisfying end. He is actually a man who has pride in his country, and in his blood, rather than most of the others, who only seem interested in wealth, power, and saving their own skins. Like Ingrid, whore to the SS, who when needs to, becomes a whore for the American soldiers at the drop of a hat. And the women mostly are beautiful, and interesting to look at. Compliments to the director, who found some stereotypically 'Aryan' looking girls to play the roles. Several women in particular, possessed those stereotypical bone structures pictured in the propaganda of the time. By far, the most interesting character of all has to be the Countess, a woman of wealth, from an old railway industrialist family, who constantly struggles against the perversion and decadence of all around her. The scene where she finally lets go of her piety by letting herself be ravaged in the filthy coal bin, is priceless. There are even some surprising battle scenes, complete with tank warfare. And the way the American soldiers are portrayed here is truly hilarious as well. What elevates 'Helltrain' above such sleaze as 'Beast In Heat', and 'SS Experiment', is the fact that where those films are often disgusting, and offensive, without any artistic merit, 'Helltrain' is actually erotic, and not so sleazy at all. There is even a bit of old fashioned romance thrown in. The innocent love that the young & beautiful Greta has for the Officer that continually comes to their rescue, is quite endearing. Certainly not for all tastes, this one is recommended for fans of weird cult cinema.
