Fantasm / Fantasm Comes Again

Synopsis: Professor Jungen Notafeud (John Bluthal), a sexologist takes us on a saucy guide through ten of the most common female fantasies. In its sequel, Fantasm Comes Again Libbie (Angela Menzies-Wills) looks at the ten most popular "Dear Collette" letters asking for sexual advice when she lands a job at her local paper.

A succession of saucy vignettes, Fantasm fails to titillate but amuses with a wardrobe full of bad fashions, huge moustaches and more terrifying hairstyles than a Billy Ray Cyrus concert. With no plot to worry about the films main pull is the vast array of "adult"" stars on display. Uschi Digart, the voluptuous star of Russ Meyer's Supervixens and Cherry, Harry and Raquel makes a welcome shapely appearance, exuding the salacious charm that made the mammary-obsessed directors work such eye-opening fun. Porn legend John Holmes has a well-endowed poke in one episode. The subject of the biopic Wonderland, Holmes was never a good-looking chap and here proves that acting ability was not why he became a star either. The likes of Rene Bond, Mary Gavin and Serena bring up the rear in enthusiastic cameos.

Full of nudity, both male and female, and vigorous sexual activity, the film never delves into hardcore territory; it's like a more risqué version of Benny Hill. The demented voice-over and awful acting add to the enjoyment but this is really a shallow attempt at putting Australia on the sleaze map. Despite the naked flesh on display the film is remarkably un-erotic. A cross between Meyers films and the Carry On series', the combination of sex and laughs doesn't quite gel, their episodic nature failing to build any sexual tension and leaving them essentially a conveyer belt of smuttiness.

In the wake of Australia's recently-introduced R certificate and the huge box office success of Alvin Purple, Fantasm was similarly a financial coup for producer Anthony. I. Ginnane, although not achieving the legendary status of Tim Burstall's film. So much so, much as with the Burstall-produced sequel Alvin Rides Again, that Ginnane also gave us Fantasm Comes Again, which was more soft-core thrills but little else. The films work perfectly together, although they are more enjoyable as a snap shot of 70s Australia than a quality example of cinematic erotica.

BTW: Richard Bruce is in fact Richard Franklin, whilst the co-directorial credit for Eric Ram was the pseudonym of Colin Eggleston, the director of the classic Long Weekend, 1978.

 

 

Want more about this film?

    

Want something different?