Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Blood Orgy of the She-Devils (1973)* (out of 4) This Ted V. Mikels film came after THE ASTRO ZOMBIES and THE CORPSE GRINDERS so if you've seen either of those films then you should know what to expect. Mara (Lila Zaborin) is using black magic and some sexy women to kill off some men who are trying to put an end to her but she then has to worry about a couple magicians who plan to use their powers to put an end to the Satan-worshiping. I really love those exploitation gems that would play third on a triple feature at a drive-in. Among the things I enjoy is reading how many films would bomb at one drive-in but they'd change the title, play it again at the same drive-in and this time the film would be a hit. Those who follow exploitation films from this era will know that there are some pretty kinky and wacky titles out there and Mikels certainly hit a grand slam with this one. BLOOD ORGY OF THE SHE-DEVILS is a marvelous title but sadly that's pretty much the only good thing going on. There's not any blood. There's no orgy. And there's really not too many she-devils on hand. The title promises sex and violence but the film is actually PG-rated and features very little going on. I'm really curious who this film was meant for because it's certainly a little too dark for kids but at the same time it's way too tame for adults so who on Earth was Mikels making this film for? I can see many people pulling out of the drive-in or hoping into the back seats with their girlfriends because there's just nothing happening here. For the majority of the running time we see Mara giving speeches about the greatness of Satan and usually she's talking in some weird language where you can't even understand what she's doing. The magicians are just downright boring as are all the victims. The film is pure boredom from start to finish simply because there's not a life of energy to be found. Mikels has gained a cult following over the past several years as more and more people check his weird filmography out. I think there's some mild charm about the guy but at the same time there's no denying that he's created some really bad and pointless films and this here is one of them. The best part of the film just happens to be a flashback sequence where several of the people on screen are still wearing clothing from the 1970s.

I sought out this film because I recently have been trying to get hold of the films of the worst film directors in history. Ted V. Mikels and his films rank up there with the worst directors of the 60s and 70s. Hershell Gordon Lewis, Al Adamson and Larry Buchanan all are in the same pantheon of badness as Mikels, as all these men have a long string up ultra low-budget and dreadful films--and most not only directed their films, but wrote and produced them as well. Which of these is the worst? Well, it's hard to say but with Mikels films such as THE CORPSE GRINDERS and THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES, it's obvious he's well in the running!Well, I was not disappointed. When the film began, a priestess was doing some sort of past life regression mumbo-jumbo. While a dumb idea to begin with, her horrible acting really made every scene she was in worth while. While this lady was a formidable witch, she certainly was NOT a formidable actress! Despite her inability to speak in any sort of a normal fashion (mostly, she screams or reads her lines very, very slowly), I must admit that some of her black magic was pretty cool--especially the fire ants and the voodoo doll bit...nice.The next portion of the film is pretty goofy. It consists of lots of vignettes involving people being tortured and killed for supposed witchcraft. This came by the witch doing a past life regression with one of her young followers--who was killed repeatedly in past lives. My favorite of this involved some bishop or other top church official exhorting his followers (some of which were in period costumes, some of which were in clothes circa 1972) to "stone her". He looked like some jerk off the street and the scene was done in a silly manner--as the folks dropped lots of fake rocks on a woman. There's more to the film than this, including some more past life regressions, some more cult mumbo-jumbo and overacting. However, the worst of it is the ending, which you just have to see to believe.Overall, a truly stupid and amazingly overacted film. Listening to the witch/priestess shriek and watching the dreadful "sexy dancing"(?) of the cult members is something you won't soon forget...no matter how hard you try!! Dumb from start to finish. Amazingly, this is definitely NOT Mikels' worst film! However, it sure tried! "Pscyhometrizing"?!?!

I have to admit, this movie was not as bad as I thought it would've been. Now, it's no Dario Argento, but there is this underlying dark theme of witchcraft, occult, the black arts and the low budget quality is apparent. Plus, considering I've seen "Girl in Gold Boots" first, I thought this one scored higher (although Gold Boots has become a favorite laffer for me). The music and visual effects helped add a creepiness to the film. Mara as the head witch does scream a lot especially during the seance scene. The Indian guy reminded me of Tomy Chong. Tom Pace did not make as many goofy faces as usual and Leslie McRae (ROWR, yum yum!!) was just great to look at despite her so so acting (I think Ted agrees). Some flaws included the witch trial flashbacks with the men donning modern dress slacks (poor kid got whipped) and the fake bat. Good late night fodder.

There wasn't much blood, and there sure wasn't no orgy. It's hard to like this movie, even as camp. It's sort of, hmmm...imagine if Russ Meyers wasn't even as talented as he was. The most interesting feature of this early seventies cheapie are the young women, presumably the titular "She-Devils," but they don't get much chance to show off their assets as actresses. I thought there was a rule, any mid-seventies horror cheapie with more than three women in the cast had to feature gratuitous nudity. They also do some dance as part of the human sacrifice ritual.SPOILER.Incoherent goings on at a witch's coven; think Snow White's mother runs the Playboy mansion. There's really nothing like a plot here. Instead you get lots of hokey scenes of the head witch in charge standing in front of a braiser, stabbing dolls, incanting. "So Mote it Be." Woo Hoo. Sometimes, she orders this caveman version of Jamie Farr to...you know, I really don't remember what he does. In one scene, he holds a bowl for her (you'll want someone to hold a bowl for you too, this might not be bad to watch with a room full of messy people.) There's a couple of scenes of witches being executed, inquisition style. One of them is momentarily amusing when you notice how much the witch looks like "Samantha." This feeling fades quickly, as the realization forms in your numbing mind that you'd be more entertained watching "Bewitched." The ending just sort of happens. This professor type who's been pushing along what plot development just comes over to the "Blood Orgy" with his three friends. They chant in an Ed Wood version of Hollywood Bible-ese. "Oh spirits of evil! We command you! We command you to remove yourself" or something equally inspired. Then lightning comes out of their fingers and the She-devils all stab each other, or perhaps the evil spirits they were boogeying with down in the groovy paneled basement that dripped blood turn against them and make them stab each other, or maybe they were just going to stab each other anyway. There's no way of knowing. Oh, and the score is unpleasant tuneless electronic music.