Reviews

I first saw this movie in a cut and edited form on a local Saturday night horror film program, even though the "naughty bits" were cut or pixalated out, there was still enough to draw my interest so that when I located a DVD copy, I bought it for my library.

Revolving around an isolated Condo complex that is infested by lust inducing parasites that turn the residents into raging sex fiends, this movie has it's share of shocking images (A woman is "raped" in her bath by one of the beasties, Two naked girls are being led about on leashes, An old man gets it on with a teen aged girl, etc..) and some I doubt Cronenburg could get away with today, such as the pre adolescent girl who "french kisses" a victim in order to infect him, and later in the films climatic "gang Rape" in the complexes pool, is seen briefly as she starts to strip after jumping in. Such "jolts" are what this film is all about, and they continue to jolt no matter how many times I've seen this movie. Just watch the scene where the main male lead is walking through the storage area and the assorted lockers bust open to disgorge a mob of sex crazed maniacs and tell me you don't jump!

While by no means a classic horror film, and shot on a shoe string budget (and believe me it shows in places), Shivers still makes for a nice guilty pleasure to watch some evening with the lights off.

I first saw this movie years ago in the 1980's under the title of "Victorian fantasies". Based loosely on the classic Victorian Erotic novel, "A man with a maid" it details the adventures of Jack, a young Victorian gent with over active hormones who sets out to woo and bed Alice, the lovely blonde Ministers daughter he meets in an art gallery. To this end he undergoes the tutelage of the madame of the local bordello, takes up photography (of the naughty variety), and purchases a large house which he converts into a private love nest. What follows next is a series of comic misadventures as he tries to seduce Alice with hypnotism, (He only succeeds in putting his butler under.), wine laced with aphrodisiac (His butler and her maid sample it first leading to the sight of the pair doing a slow striptease, then rolling on the floor together behind the back of the oblivious Alice as she sits at tea with Jack, who's hardpressed to conceal his reactions to the antics of the two servants.) A severe thunder storm gives Jack the chance to lure Alice into his secret room where he tries to subject her to his various seduction devices (Which all malfunction in hilarious fashion), then forces her to undress as he photographs the process. (Which leads to my single complaint about the film, as you only see her drop each garment at her feet rather then getting to see her remove her dress and all those delightful things Victorian woman wore as underwear!) while the maid and butler engage in their own hanky panky belowstairs. Not to reveal too much, but Jack gets more then he bargains for when Alice turns the tables on him and reveals the true hot blooded woman under her prim exterior. While by no means a "great" film, "My favorite Butler" still makes for an amusing little diversion.

I last saw this film in 1979 when it was re run and it's imagry still haunts me. A young man returns to his home after many years where he meets up with his childhood playmate, now a grown woman. But she is not what she seems, and is part of a dark secret, a secret that cost the young man his family when he was a boy. Although it's been twenty plus years since I saw this movie, I can still recall many of the images clearly; the 1700's Jennie sinking into the depths after making her pact with the devil, skirts billowing around her, the giant turtles attack on the lighthouse, Jennie's eyes glowing just before she claims Carl weather's character, the haunting theme song (Which I wish someone would have put on a record). I have searched for this film on VHS and now DVD for many years to add it to my collection, but to no avail. I see Rankin and Bass, who produced all those animated holiday specials have brought them out on DVD, so why not this movie which has obviously touched a great many other people besides myself. is there any way we could contact them and let them know just how much we'd be willing to purchase this film if they produced a quality DVD version?