Retail Price: $29.95

Reviewed by:
Ian Jane on November 23, 2007.

With a title like The Eroticist, you might expect to see a knock off of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, albeit maybe one with a sexier edge (they are out there). That said, you’d be very wrong as this film, better known in some circles under the more appropriate title of The Senator Likes Women, is about as far removed from Friedkin’s classic as you can get. 

Directed by the late, great Lucio Fulci, the film follows Senator Gianni Puppis (Lando Buzzanco), an Italian politician who, due to his status as a long time bachelor, is assumed to be a homosexual by many of his peers. Puppis’ political career is on a big upswing as of late and there’s a very good chance that he’ll win the next presidential election until a female ambassador from Uria arrives and Puppis greets her by grabbing her ass – right in front of a TV camera.  

With the footage captured and the deed undisputable, Puppis finds himself the victim of some nefarious blackmail. He goes to Father Lucion (Renzo Palmer), a boyhood friend of his who is now a monk, for help and the good Father soon discovers Puppis’ affections for a shapely female posterior know no bounds. He’s got a penchant for ass grabbing and often times doesn’t even know he’s doing it until it’s too late – the guy just can’t help himself! Lucion sends Puppis off to a German convent to clean up his act where  Father Scirer (Francis Blanche) runs a tight ship. Unfortunately for Puppis, the convent is full of sexy little nuns played by the likes Laura Antonelli, Agostina Belli, Arturo Dominici and Anita Strindberg. Puppis wants to get over his addiction to plump rump fondling but the temptations are all around him and he may be powerless to resist. 

Certainly not the type of macabre fare that Fulci’s name is usually associated with, The Eroticist is a sexy and playful political satire that probably played better in the Italy of the early 1970s than it does in modern day North America (a familiarity with the way in which the Catholic Church in Italy plays such an important part in the countries politics certainly helps). The first part of the film sets up the political stage but much of this will be lost on audiences outside of Italy where the film was intended to play. That said , once the comedy kicks in the film starts to work reasonably well and there are some genuinely funny gags throughout the last hour of the movie that transcend social and political boundaries. Buzzanco seems to be having fun with the lead role, using quirky facial expression and body language to convey his frustrations while the supporting cast, much of which is comprised of some rather delicious looking Eurocult starlets, all look the part and act accordingly.  

Those expecting one of Fulci’s grizzly horror films will be disappointed by fans of quirky Italian sex comedies should enjoy The Eroticist. Severin has done a good job on the presentation and the bonus documentary is an interesting and informative extra.

Lando Buzzanca, Lionel Stander, Laura Antonelli, Corrado Gaipa, Renzo Palmer, Agostina Belli, Anita Strindberg