Küß mich, Monster (1969)

User Rating:

3.7/10   

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Karl Heinz Mannchen (story)
Jesus Franco (screenplay)

Release Date:

March 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

How to Create an Army of Young Lovers

Plot Keywords:

Whipping | Nude Wearing Glasses | Nudity | Striptease | Female Detective

Cast

Janine Reynaud	...	Diana
Rosanna Yanni	...	Regina (as Rossana Yanni)
Adrian Hoven	...	Eric Vicas
Chris Howland	...	Francis McClune
Michel Lemoine	...	Jacques Maurier
Ana Casares	...	Linda
Manuel Velasco	...	Andy
Marta Reves	...	Irina
Barta Barri	...	Inspektor Kramer
Manolo Otero	...	Dimitri
María Antonia Redondo	...	Bulumba
Jesus Franco	...	Abilene's Contact Man
Dorit Dom	...	Anita (as Maria Dom)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fernando de Rojas
Carlos Mendy
Gregorio de Mora	...	Andros
Nélida Quiroga
Caroline Rivière

Also Known As:

Bésame monstruo (Spain)
Castle of the Doomed
Kiss Me, Monster (USA)

Runtime:

Spain:87 min | USA:75 min

Country:

Spain | West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (1995 VHS release) | USA:R | UK:18 (original rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2005)

Filming Locations:

Archena, Murcia, Spain

Company:

Aquila Film Enterprises

Movie Connections:

Follows Rote Lippen, Sadisterotica (1969)

Camp Fun And Curves, Brought To You By Jess Franco

I am a big Fan of Jess Franco, who is, with over 180 films as a director, quite possibly the most prolific filmmaker alive. There is no doubt that the man's impressive repertoire includes some masterpieces ("Miss Muerte", "Venus In Furs"), many highly entertaining flicks and many stinkers ("Sadomania") alike. While "Küss Mich, Monster" of 1969 is certainly not one of the highlights in Franco's career, it is yet a camp and quite fun to watch little spy-spoof that fans of Franco and amusing kitsch in general should enjoy. Even though the film has a certain macabre humor, this is easily one of the tamest films from this highly prolific exploitation director. Of course, the year is 1969, and it is obvious that the film is not gonna be the sleaze-fest that Franco's 70s and 80s productions were. While I did expect 60s sexploitation, however, the film has some kinky parts, but is overall a pretty harmless little black comedy. Janine Reynaud's bared breasts are the most nudity the viewer will get to see in this film, and the violence is also very tame for Franco standards. Yet, this does in no way lessen the film's value as a likable and amusing (if terribly silly) little comedy that should not leave its viewers bored. This is a sequel to the (supposedly better) "Rote Lippen, Sadisterotica" from the same year. It follows two sexy female spies, Diana (Janine Reynaud) and Regina (Rosanna Yanni), on their investigations, which mainly include flirtations, skimpy outfits, eccentric villains and bizarre situations. This is certainly no highlight of any sort, but camp humor and the sexy female cast make it a worthwhile time-waster. Recommended to my fellow Jess Franco fans.