“One of these people has committed murder most foul — but which one?”
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Synopsis:
A nude “Greek chorus of one” (Kitten Navidad) narrates the tale of a Hitler-lookalike (Edward Schaaf) being murdered in his bathtub by a piranha after an encounter with a man dressed as a Pilgrim (Robert McLane); a rapist (Larry Dean) being killed by his buxomy victim (Raven De La Croix); De La Croix’s affair with a horny sheriff (Monty Bane); and the opening of a new diner by McLane and his bisexual wife (Janet Wood), who has been carrying on an affair with a female trucker (Linda Sue Ragsdale).
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Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
- Mistaken or Hidden Identities
- Murder Mystery
- Russ Meyer Films
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary writes, this “ugly Russ Meyer film” has “sex scenes that are more graphic and repulsive than those usually found in Meyer films”, is lacking in “Meyer humor”, and “contains a tasteless S&M sequence… and a couple of rapes… played for laughs”. He points out the fact that “Meyer’s films always contain ‘hicks’ so he can get away with objectionable dialogue” — of which there is more than plenty. He ends his review by noting that the “picture’s best scene has two surviving women running nude through the forest, trying to kill each other and simultaneously carrying on a lengthy conversation that ties up all the film’s loose ends”, thus representing “Meyer at his most outrageous”.
Why in the world does Peary include this title in his GFTFF?
Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Not much, unless you’re a Meyer fan.
Must See?
No; definitely skip this one.
Links:
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2 thoughts on “Up! (1976)”
Not must-see.
As we know to be the case with a number of other filmmakers/actors, Peary is over-inclusive of Meyer titles. I haven’t seen everything Meyer did but more than a ‘fair’ amount.
‘Up!’ (one of his final films) is not Meyer at his most, um…’inspired’ but, as noted, the “loose ends” conversation in the last 10 minutes is rather funny.
It’s also unusual to see Meyer including more graphic man-on-man sex (dumb as it is). [Oddly, Robert McLane had, two years prior, played the lead in a groundbreaking gay film, ‘A Very Natural Thing’.]
⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s been a while but I remember this as quite funny and transgressive and entertaining if no classic.