Shadow Of Illusion (1970)

Shadow Of Illusion (1970)
aka: Le Ombre Roventi, Hombre Violento
Director: Mario Caiano
Cast: William Berger, Daniela Giordano, Krista Nell
Euro thriller.

A model Gail Bland is ordered to travel to Egypt for a promotional job with a company named Isis Cosmetics. Soon after arriving she learns the company isn't real and that she's been summoned due to her likeness of a cults goddess named Isis. Thankfully Mrs Bland isn't on her own and she's helped by a man named Caleb, only there's more to her helpfull stranger than it seems.

Occult Italian thriller, that is no wonder to me that its been practically unseen for decades. The premise is good but there's too many pauses in its action and the central plot, not even the added spice of seeing Daniela Giordano and Krista Nell in a lesbian embrace adds enough to warrant viewing. I'm sure drug movie film fans will be slightly interested in the use of doped cigeretes. Which leads me to an interesting bit of trivia I'd found on fantastic thewildeye blog concerning two of the films cast William Berger and his then wife Carolyn Lobravico a short time after filming this during the night of August 4th in 1970 they was both arrested for hashish possession by the Neapolitan police, and sent to a criminal lunatic asylum. In the October, Carolyn had died of acute peritonitis brought on by hepatitis while still incarcerated, the government refused her medical treatment. Claiming they had thought her terrible pain was due to drug withdrawl, Berger was left in prison until March the following year. Really sad case that goes to prove the old adaj that celebrity life isn't all its cracked up to be. Anyhow to some it up Shadow Of Illusion could have been an interesting Wickerman type look at occult cultists, but sadly it never hits the nail on the head. I personally found it boring and would be hard pushed to truthfully recommend it, even to the most die hard European sleaze fan.

Cultdb Totals
[Rated 4½ out of 10]
[Deathcount 5]
[Gorequota 2/10]

Themes Included: Pagan Cult ● Egypt ● Sacrifice