This is the precursor to modern art-horror hybrids like KISSED or NEKROMANTIK. A frigid woman who likes funerals and is turned on only by dead bodies enters into a sexless marriage with CAROL BURNETT SHOW stud Lyle Waggoner and secretly joins a cult of necrophiliacs in a local morgue. For a film that had so much perverse and ghoulish potential, this film only partially entertains. There's a particularly shocking scene early in the film of a guy being embalmed alive but the film gets bogged down in the drama of marital problems in the second hour. While the serious approach to such outrageous material is greatly appreciated, a little more ghoulish horror would've been nice.
31 Reviews
Better than you might expect
Clayton1 October 1998
Just having a film with the subject of necrophilia would turn most viewers off, yet this film does a fairly "tasteful", if the term can be used in this context, job with the subject matter. The films major liability is a story which swings between chilling horror and sappy 70's romance. But, the film is well-directed and for those who decide to sit all the way through to the surprise ending, probably won't be terribly disappointed.
Far better than expected
Tristan!-223 February 2006
To be honest, when one reads the synopsis of this film one expects the worst. Surprisingly, this is an engaging and frank study both of necrophilia and of a daughter's inability to let go of the past.
Helped along by a very professional sounding theme tune (sung by Kit Fuller), and a lively score echoing films of much more mainstream cinema, this is a shocking film that will make you think for a long time afterwards. Unfortunately, the good acting and imaginative story is let down by some chronically bad editing - particularly when we are suddenly introduced to the character of Alex - but this aside, you should find much more to enjoy about this movie than you will find to dislike about it.
"Love Me Deadly" is to necrophilia what "Max Mon Amour" is to bestiality: one of the last taboos to be tackled in an grown-up fashion, but which can be appreciated by an audience without needing to visit a seedy sex-shop; where story comes first, and titillation is far down the line.
Helped along by a very professional sounding theme tune (sung by Kit Fuller), and a lively score echoing films of much more mainstream cinema, this is a shocking film that will make you think for a long time afterwards. Unfortunately, the good acting and imaginative story is let down by some chronically bad editing - particularly when we are suddenly introduced to the character of Alex - but this aside, you should find much more to enjoy about this movie than you will find to dislike about it.
"Love Me Deadly" is to necrophilia what "Max Mon Amour" is to bestiality: one of the last taboos to be tackled in an grown-up fashion, but which can be appreciated by an audience without needing to visit a seedy sex-shop; where story comes first, and titillation is far down the line.
A love triangle between the living and the dead
lazarillo4 August 2009
Traumatized by the death of her beloved father, a young woman compulsively attends the funerals of strangers. After she is caught sucking face with a male corpse by a creepy mortician, the mortician inducts her into a bizarre cult of people who enjoy making love to dead bodies. But then she falls in love with a living man and the real drama develops.
This is one of the few movies about necrophilia where there is really an equal emphasis on the "necro" and "philia". There's a very disturbing scene where the creepy mortician picks up a male prostitute and proceeds to embalm him while he's still alive(!), but generally this movie isn't nearly as gruesome as stuff like "Der Mosquito", "Lucker", "Beyond the Darkness" or "Nekromantic". It does, however, have one of those sappy 70's love plots (complete with a syrupy 70's soundtrack) that is definitely odds with the more gruesome content. But, in my opinion anyway, it also makes the film more interesting than if it had just been a pure gorefest.
This film is also yet another entry in strange series of 70's exploitation films (i.e. "Dream No Evil", "Toys Are Not for Children", "Baby Rosemary") all focusing on female Norman Bates-types whose obsessive love for dead or absent fathers results in severe adult sexual dysfunction, and ultimately tragedy. The most recent movie it resembles is the "indie cult" film "Kissed" with Molly Parker. But while others may disagree, I definitely prefer 70's exploitation to modern-day "indie" quirkiness. This is definitely worth seeing.
This is one of the few movies about necrophilia where there is really an equal emphasis on the "necro" and "philia". There's a very disturbing scene where the creepy mortician picks up a male prostitute and proceeds to embalm him while he's still alive(!), but generally this movie isn't nearly as gruesome as stuff like "Der Mosquito", "Lucker", "Beyond the Darkness" or "Nekromantic". It does, however, have one of those sappy 70's love plots (complete with a syrupy 70's soundtrack) that is definitely odds with the more gruesome content. But, in my opinion anyway, it also makes the film more interesting than if it had just been a pure gorefest.
This film is also yet another entry in strange series of 70's exploitation films (i.e. "Dream No Evil", "Toys Are Not for Children", "Baby Rosemary") all focusing on female Norman Bates-types whose obsessive love for dead or absent fathers results in severe adult sexual dysfunction, and ultimately tragedy. The most recent movie it resembles is the "indie cult" film "Kissed" with Molly Parker. But while others may disagree, I definitely prefer 70's exploitation to modern-day "indie" quirkiness. This is definitely worth seeing.
Curio Cult Piece
arfdawg-129 September 2020
Very strange movie directed by a teacher who never worked again, despite making a movie for no money that grossed over eighteen million!
They must have duped Lyle Waggoner to appear in this film which features full frontal male gay nudity. A far cry from Carol Burnett, which I think he was still in when this was made.
I'm not 100% sure what this movie is about. It appears there's a group of people who like having sex with newly dead people and so they embalm them while still alive and hang around them in the nude.
And then there's this blonde who is not in teh group but seems to be attracted to it in some way that has to do with her dead father.
Apparently some of the dialog was so bad that after the movie was shot they just pumped up the music so you can't hear what's being said!
The acting isn't horrible (although the blondes screaming is WAYYYYY over the top) and the directing isn't all that bad either considering this guy had zero experience. Many of the actors had a career into the 90's on TV and film, although nothing major. Some of them died in their 50's.
In the end the movie falls flat because it's so poorly written. There are some shots of early 70's L.A. that are fun to watch and maybe if you watch this with some friends who ike bad movies you'll like it more than me.
They must have duped Lyle Waggoner to appear in this film which features full frontal male gay nudity. A far cry from Carol Burnett, which I think he was still in when this was made.
I'm not 100% sure what this movie is about. It appears there's a group of people who like having sex with newly dead people and so they embalm them while still alive and hang around them in the nude.
And then there's this blonde who is not in teh group but seems to be attracted to it in some way that has to do with her dead father.
Apparently some of the dialog was so bad that after the movie was shot they just pumped up the music so you can't hear what's being said!
The acting isn't horrible (although the blondes screaming is WAYYYYY over the top) and the directing isn't all that bad either considering this guy had zero experience. Many of the actors had a career into the 90's on TV and film, although nothing major. Some of them died in their 50's.
In the end the movie falls flat because it's so poorly written. There are some shots of early 70's L.A. that are fun to watch and maybe if you watch this with some friends who ike bad movies you'll like it more than me.
Interesting Film, If Nothing Else
Johnboy122117 January 2007
I have a theory that this film got Lyle Waggoner dismissed from The Carol Burnett Show (he left the series the following season, by mutual agreement).
Regardless, by today's standards, it's not that shocking. The copy of the film I have seems to have been carefully edited, and not as violent or graphic as I recall it being in the theater production.
By 1973 standards, it was quite a shocker...very graphic and gory, complete with a gay subtext. As I recall, it was loosely based around a real-life Los Angeles "cult" of funeral home "lovers of dead" psychos. The story is fiction, but, who knows what goes on behind the closed doors at funeral homes? The acting isn't too bad, and it's fun watching Lyle play against type. The star is quite pretty, too, and she plays her role well. Her hunky boyfriend does a good job of...well, being prepared for cold sex (and so does poor Lyle).
In the right frame of mind, this comes across well. In fact, I'd love to see the original, uncut version one day, on widescreen DVD, but I ain't holdin' my breath. This is lurid stuff, and it ain't likely to see the DVD "light of day".
If you do see this "sicky", just don't take it too seriously, and it might be fun to watch.
Regardless, by today's standards, it's not that shocking. The copy of the film I have seems to have been carefully edited, and not as violent or graphic as I recall it being in the theater production.
By 1973 standards, it was quite a shocker...very graphic and gory, complete with a gay subtext. As I recall, it was loosely based around a real-life Los Angeles "cult" of funeral home "lovers of dead" psychos. The story is fiction, but, who knows what goes on behind the closed doors at funeral homes? The acting isn't too bad, and it's fun watching Lyle play against type. The star is quite pretty, too, and she plays her role well. Her hunky boyfriend does a good job of...well, being prepared for cold sex (and so does poor Lyle).
In the right frame of mind, this comes across well. In fact, I'd love to see the original, uncut version one day, on widescreen DVD, but I ain't holdin' my breath. This is lurid stuff, and it ain't likely to see the DVD "light of day".
If you do see this "sicky", just don't take it too seriously, and it might be fun to watch.
IT TAINT NATURAL
nogodnomasters14 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Lindsay (Mary Charlotte Wilcox) has a dead daddy issue which manifests itself with her attending funerals so she can give the young male corpse a long kiss. She is found our by a cult of necrophiliacs who for some reason wear hooded robes like a satanic cult. She also marries Lyle Waggoner which really doesn't work out because he wants to be on top and move and stuff.
That is pretty much it. Add some Mary Wilcox nudity, including some male nudity
Well preserved for a 1972 film. Most likely because they didn't show it much. Not too many extras.
That is pretty much it. Add some Mary Wilcox nudity, including some male nudity
Well preserved for a 1972 film. Most likely because they didn't show it much. Not too many extras.
well made slow, sad story of a woman attracted to the dead, who still tries living with the living
FieCrier11 February 2005
Lindsay, a pretty blonde in black complete with veil sits in one of the back rows for a funeral service. She remains after all others have left, and goes up to caress and kiss the dead man, though without quite making contact. The opening credits appear over sepia-tinted scenes of a young blonde girl playing with her loving father.
Lindsay has a party, and a blonde male friend of hers follows her upstairs, but she fights him off. She continues visiting funeral parlors. At one, she bumps into the deceased's brother, an art gallery owner, and they take a mutual liking to each other. He reminds her a little of her father, and innocent sepia-tinted scenes of her with her father are interspersed throughout the film.
Another man cruises by a gay film theater, and picks up a young hustler. He takes him back to his office, saying it's a veterinarian's office, but after he straps the young man down, it's clearly an embalming room.
Lindsay is approached by the cruiser at one of the funerals, and he tells her about necrophilia. She tries to throw herself more deeply into her relationships with her blonde friend and the gallery owner, but she can't handle much more than an arm around the waist or a quick kiss.
She tries joining a group of necrophiliacs at the funeral parlor, but the group activity scares her off. The group does dress in black robes, and use red candles, but they don't seem to be devil worshipers as some others have said.
Her relationship with the gallery owner deepens, but she still can't handle a physical relationship. She also has a couple other secrets no one except her maid knows.
The movie moves fairly slowly, but I found it pretty involving. It is quite sad. I was surprised to see H.B. Halicki (Gone in 60 Seconds, The Junkman) was one of the associate producers! There's also a good musical score. Over the opening credits, the theme song "Love Me Deadly" is sung, and the musical theme is repeated instrumental in different variations throughout.
Lindsay has a party, and a blonde male friend of hers follows her upstairs, but she fights him off. She continues visiting funeral parlors. At one, she bumps into the deceased's brother, an art gallery owner, and they take a mutual liking to each other. He reminds her a little of her father, and innocent sepia-tinted scenes of her with her father are interspersed throughout the film.
Another man cruises by a gay film theater, and picks up a young hustler. He takes him back to his office, saying it's a veterinarian's office, but after he straps the young man down, it's clearly an embalming room.
Lindsay is approached by the cruiser at one of the funerals, and he tells her about necrophilia. She tries to throw herself more deeply into her relationships with her blonde friend and the gallery owner, but she can't handle much more than an arm around the waist or a quick kiss.
She tries joining a group of necrophiliacs at the funeral parlor, but the group activity scares her off. The group does dress in black robes, and use red candles, but they don't seem to be devil worshipers as some others have said.
Her relationship with the gallery owner deepens, but she still can't handle a physical relationship. She also has a couple other secrets no one except her maid knows.
The movie moves fairly slowly, but I found it pretty involving. It is quite sad. I was surprised to see H.B. Halicki (Gone in 60 Seconds, The Junkman) was one of the associate producers! There's also a good musical score. Over the opening credits, the theme song "Love Me Deadly" is sung, and the musical theme is repeated instrumental in different variations throughout.
Love Me Deadly
Scarecrow-888 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Weirdo Lindsay Finch(Mary Charlotte Wilcox), with serious "daddy issues", is sexually impotent due to a past trauma involving the death of her father. Lindsay is a "funeral nut" who is obsessed with attending services for the dead, particularly of those men who resemble her father. Alex Martin(Lyle Waggoner, who favors Rock Hudson)is an art dealer who falls in love with Lindsay after seeing her in a funeral for his father. Martin and Lindsay eventually court and marry but he is frustrated that she won't put out. Lindsay soon becomes involved with a bizarre necrophilia cult led by mortician Fred McSweeney(a creepy Timothy Scott)using his funeral home as the place where their sex rituals take place. A friend of Lindsay's, Wade Farrow(Christopher Stone, future husband of scream queen Dee Wallace), who had an interest in her at one point, follows her to the funeral home, becoming one of many victims at the hand of Fred and his followers.
I imagine many will find LOVE ME DEADLY somewhat interesting as it touches on necrophilia, a taboo subject, and one wonders if there was even some incest hinted at between Lindsay as a little girl and her father. I doubt the incest, but it's easy to see that Lindsay worshiped her pops and his presence has never left her. She must visit his grave site almost every day, and is compelled to eventually "molest the dead", something that may conclude that there was a sexual component alive between Lindsay and her dad. I guess that's for the viewer to decide. All I know is that she approaches bodies prepared by Fred for her and each time she's about to take to the corpse, someone interrupts. It's a disturbing aspect which might repulse some. But, most of the time, I was bored out of my mind, as the filmmakers insist on long musical interludes overlapping time spent together between Lindsay and Alex, or Lindsay and Wade; you know picnics, walking the streets, hand in hand, all smiles, warm and fuzzy. Soon Wade picks up another girl(he's a bit of a player), with Alex and Lindsay continuing their blossoming romance. From start to finish, Lindsay is shown to have a few screws loose, never stable, always drawn to dead men who carry a resemblance to her father. Fred just makes things worse by offering her a room with those men, inciting her desires, inviting Lindsay to follow her compulsions to fruition.
I imagine many will find LOVE ME DEADLY somewhat interesting as it touches on necrophilia, a taboo subject, and one wonders if there was even some incest hinted at between Lindsay as a little girl and her father. I doubt the incest, but it's easy to see that Lindsay worshiped her pops and his presence has never left her. She must visit his grave site almost every day, and is compelled to eventually "molest the dead", something that may conclude that there was a sexual component alive between Lindsay and her dad. I guess that's for the viewer to decide. All I know is that she approaches bodies prepared by Fred for her and each time she's about to take to the corpse, someone interrupts. It's a disturbing aspect which might repulse some. But, most of the time, I was bored out of my mind, as the filmmakers insist on long musical interludes overlapping time spent together between Lindsay and Alex, or Lindsay and Wade; you know picnics, walking the streets, hand in hand, all smiles, warm and fuzzy. Soon Wade picks up another girl(he's a bit of a player), with Alex and Lindsay continuing their blossoming romance. From start to finish, Lindsay is shown to have a few screws loose, never stable, always drawn to dead men who carry a resemblance to her father. Fred just makes things worse by offering her a room with those men, inciting her desires, inviting Lindsay to follow her compulsions to fruition.
Cold-hearted horror with a graphic and unpleasant theme
Leofwine_draca19 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This controversial American film is one of the first to openly deal with the subject of necrophilia in a pretty graphic way, and has therefore rarely seen the light of day since it first slipped out on completion. A grim and depressing tale with one or two surprising twists along the way, this is a slow-moving but sometimes chilling story which maintains a surreal edge to it throughout. The film bizarrely mixes between sappy romance and cutting edge horror, and the end result is somewhat flawed but very interesting to watch. It involves your typical blonde-haired housewife who visits all the local funerals and caresses the corpses at every opportunity. She's noticed by a long-haired guy who works at the funeral parlour and who invites her to join his necrophiliac sect, a group of would-be Satanics who strip off at every available opportunity and have sex with the dead. Initially revulsed, she eventually comes around to the idea which leads to tragic events for her husband.
For the most part, this seems like "safe", straightforward atmospheric horror but on occasion it's shocking and downright nasty. The murder of the rent boy near the beginning of the film is very gruesome, as it involves him being strapped to an operating table and messily drained of blood. Later on a guy's stomach is cut open and we get to see inside. Although these are the only moments in the film which contain brief hardcore gore, the effect is startling: you're left feeling unsettled for the rest of the viewing and unsure of what may transpire. Although obviously made on a low budget, the film has pretty realistic production values and strong direction by Jacques Lacerte, who handles things admirably. The casting is pretty good aside from the leading lady, Mary Wilcox, who I found grating in the extreme. Her idea of (over)acting reminded me of the girl who played Barbara in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, another actress that rubbed me up the wrong way, and therefore her presence is an irritant. Apart from this, nobody puts a foot wrong, especially in the case of the creepy and murderous bad guys.
The romantic aspects sit glaringly with the horror content and I think were inserted to provide a contrast with the nastiness going on - Lacerte seems to be saying "look, here's normality", then later moves on to some of the nastiest perversion of mankind as the very opposite of normal. The film maintains a non-exploitative approach (aside from the ample nudity) and the music is sombre and at times melancholy, instead of being crass with over-the-top chords to shock. The finale contains a nice psychological twist which is a long time in coming but makes sense of the leading character's actions and motivations, so its worth sitting through if at times you find yourself frustrated. An intriguing oddity with a cold heart but original premise.
For the most part, this seems like "safe", straightforward atmospheric horror but on occasion it's shocking and downright nasty. The murder of the rent boy near the beginning of the film is very gruesome, as it involves him being strapped to an operating table and messily drained of blood. Later on a guy's stomach is cut open and we get to see inside. Although these are the only moments in the film which contain brief hardcore gore, the effect is startling: you're left feeling unsettled for the rest of the viewing and unsure of what may transpire. Although obviously made on a low budget, the film has pretty realistic production values and strong direction by Jacques Lacerte, who handles things admirably. The casting is pretty good aside from the leading lady, Mary Wilcox, who I found grating in the extreme. Her idea of (over)acting reminded me of the girl who played Barbara in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, another actress that rubbed me up the wrong way, and therefore her presence is an irritant. Apart from this, nobody puts a foot wrong, especially in the case of the creepy and murderous bad guys.
The romantic aspects sit glaringly with the horror content and I think were inserted to provide a contrast with the nastiness going on - Lacerte seems to be saying "look, here's normality", then later moves on to some of the nastiest perversion of mankind as the very opposite of normal. The film maintains a non-exploitative approach (aside from the ample nudity) and the music is sombre and at times melancholy, instead of being crass with over-the-top chords to shock. The finale contains a nice psychological twist which is a long time in coming but makes sense of the leading character's actions and motivations, so its worth sitting through if at times you find yourself frustrated. An intriguing oddity with a cold heart but original premise.
Perfect entertainment for a surprise necrophilia party ............
merklekranz3 March 2010
"Love Me Deadly" is nothing more than a severely dated time capsule from the 1970s. It all starts with some pretty annoying vocals, followed by some very annoying piano music. By way of flashbacks we gradually are enlightened as to why the heroine prefers dead men in bed, rather than her husband. What is not enlightening is the totally dead space filled with walking around art galleries, driving to funeral homes, strolling in the park, barbecuing, sitting in front of a fireplace, etc. etc. etc. I would say that the only thing "genuinely deeply shocking" about "Love Me Deadly" is how shockingly boring it is. Even uncut and uncensored, this is a real yawn fest. - MERK
A compellingly bizarre, yet tasteful tale of necrophilia
Woodyanders2 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Frigid, remote and repressed young Lindsay Finch (a fine performance by gorgeous blonde Mary Wilcox of "Beast of the Yellow Night") has a morbid fascination with the recently deceased: she frequently attends funerals of complete strangers and finds herself drawn to a depraved cult of corpse-loving freaks led by sinister undertaker Fred McSweeney (a pleasingly creepy portrayal by Timothy Scott). Lindsay attempts a normal romantic relationship with nice guy Alex Martin (a likable turn by "The Carol Burnett Show" regular Lyle Waggoner), but alas things don't work out. Writer/director Jacques Lacerte relates the gloomy story at a stately pace, does a sound job of creating a suitably eerie and downbeat tone, and treats the unsavory subject matter with commendable taste and restraint. Wilcox shines in the lead role; she manages to make Lindsay a movingly troubled and sympathetic character despite her ghoulish sexual interest with the dead. Wilcox receives excellent support from Waggoner, Scott, Christopher Stone as amorously aggressive stud Wade Farrow, and William Quinn as ill-fated male hustler Billy Jo (who in the film's single most gruesome and unnerving scene winds up being embalmed alive by Fred!). David Aaron's bright, pretty cinematography gives the picture an attractive sunny look. Phil Moody's neatly varied score alternates between spooky'n'shuddery chillshow stuff and more bouncy and upbeat music. The hauntingly melancholy titular theme song sung by Kit Fuller is quite memorable. But what really makes this film so surprisingly poignant and effective is the fact that at its core is a very sad and tragic doomed love story. An interesting and refreshingly different kind of fright feature.
The Lady in Black, Surrounded by Death
Coventry8 March 2010
Wow, an obscure early 70's horror movie dealing with the topic of necrophilia! How provocative and controversial does that sound? Well, judging by the sound of the opening theme song, it's not provocative or controversial at all! The song, albeit lovely sung and catchy, sounds more like a prototypic Bond movie tune. Luckily enough that impression quickly fades away with the introduction of some very peculiar characters, like a psychopathic mortician who embalms a male prostitute when he's still alive and a peculiar woman who hangs around funerals and mortuaries just because she gets aroused by the sight of corpses. We learn that it all started at the burial of her beloved daddy. She approached the coffin when everybody else and started kissing him on the dead lips. Ever since that magical moment, she also gets sepia-colored flashbacks in which he plays with her when she was still a little girl. Okay, so what happens if these two completely demented individuals meet at a funeral? The mortician invites her to become a member of a secret cult of necrophiliacs and it's the beginning of a wonderfully twisted and perverted friendship! I can't believe there actually existed a movie with such a tremendously disgraceful plot outline and I didn't know about it until now! Of course, this is a zero-budgeted 70's grindhouse flick, so don't expect any vile sequences of gore or sleaze. The tone, atmosphere and suggestive stuff in "Love Me Deadly", on the other hand, are quite shocking and disturbing. Further in the film, the woman tries to build up a normal family life with a living and breathing male species (the brother of one of the corpses she tried to make it with), but she's forever drawn to the dead like bees are to honey. As strange and deeply alarming as it may sound, "Love Me Deadly" is a gentle and respectful portrait of people with
um
socially unaccepted sexual cravings. Necrophilia is automatically associated with filthy perverts exhuming bodies or climbing atop of half-rotten cadavers, but it looks as if this film single-handedly tries to general perception. You know, like 'necrophiliacs are normal people with jobs and friends like everybody else' or something like that. Up to you to decide whether that's sick or noble. This movie is nothing like "Lucker" or "Nekromantik", obviously, but still quite unpleasant to watch. There are numerous powerful sequences, like when Lindsay's husband follows her around to mortuaries and daddy's tomb. For you see, she's a very troubled girl with more than just one screw loose, but still you continuously feel sympathy for her. At least I did. She's not a monster, a murderer or a sex-addicted freak. She's a tormented soul with needs she can't openly express. I'm not familiar with 70's exploitation that make you contemplate about stuff, but "Love Me Deadly" does and that's truly unique. The gathering sequences are exaggerated, though, making it look as if the necrophiliacs are some sort of satanic cult. The character of the mortician is also made extra sinister and creepy to appear more to horror fans. The fantastic climax left me in a state of nausea, perplexity, disbelief and mild shock.
A premise with promise - movie does not deliver
eddie-9649221 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This movie should win a raspberry award for being hands down the most boring film about necrophilia ever made. I thought it was gonna take a turn as an extreme roughie during the hustler pickup/murder scene, alas it goes back to being a mind numbingly slow burning soapy montage/talk fest.
Just like the character's new husband has entered into a sexless marriage - we wait patiently for the female lead to get freaky with a corpse - after all, why else would you rent a movie about porking the dead? Yet we only get teased with the idea of it and the film drags on and on. Sucker for a cool movie poster? Beware - this movie sucks! Bored me to death. Take my word for it, it's a stinker worth skipping.
Just like the character's new husband has entered into a sexless marriage - we wait patiently for the female lead to get freaky with a corpse - after all, why else would you rent a movie about porking the dead? Yet we only get teased with the idea of it and the film drags on and on. Sucker for a cool movie poster? Beware - this movie sucks! Bored me to death. Take my word for it, it's a stinker worth skipping.
Jorge Buttergeit take note
white pongo25 June 2001
This great, sadly neglected piece of 70's sleaze is much better than the later, more well-known NEKROMANTIK.For me, the most disturbing scene was not the corpse sex, but the blood draining sequence. This must have turned heads back in '72. Recommended.
Interesting theme, not so interesting movie
dipdatta1 January 2014
This movie had great promise. The theme was very off-beat & interesting - homosexuality (remember, it was made in 1973) and necrophilia. Unlike what the IMDb movie description says, I didn't find any trace of satanism in the story (there is a cult, but it is necrophiliac, not satanic ). There is decent amount of blood & gore (I saw the uncut version). Unfortunately, the plot is not tight and fails to keep viewers attracted throughout. Acting is passable - the main character (Mary Charlotte Wilcox) is very wooden & it's hard to feel any emotional attachment with her. Overall not a bad movie, if you enjoy off-beat horror movies, this might work for you.
A necrophilia-themed chamber drama
drownsoda9026 December 2019
"Love Me Deadly" follows a young woman in Los Angeles who attends the funerals of men she does not know in order to sneak kisses with the dead. She is soon spotted by a kindred spirit--a man who shares her same necrophiliac tendencies--and it turns out he has his own Satanic group he wants her to join.
This early '70s effort is marketed as a horror film, and in some ways it is, but "Love Me Deadly" plays more like an oppressive chamber drama, drenched in gaudy colors, cheap-looking sets, and peppered with necrophilia sequences. Given the audacious subject matter here, one would think the film would edge into total exploitation, but it manages to keep its wits about it.
Necrophilia aside, the film's main horror angle is the funerary worker/leader of a Satanic necrophiliac cult which he wants the female protagonist to join. This plot element seems hackneyed and the actual nature of this "cult" is not entirely made clear (especially its alleged Satanic motivations, which are never really elucidated), and the film suffers slightly because of this. Mary Charlotte Wilcox portrays the leading character nicely, and the script attempts to unravel her sexual proclivities, tracing them back to a childhood trauma; at times the film reminded me of its contemporary, "The Witch Who Came out of the Sea," in that it deals with similar themes regarding childhood trauma, though it goes about them completely differently. Like many films of this ilk, "Love Me Deadly" also suffers from poor editing and dubbing, which is fairly common for grindhouse pictures of this type.
All in all, "Love Me Deadly" is a mildly entertaining horror film that is not nearly as disturbing as one might expect. The subject matter, though perverse, is handled well, and the lead character evokes sympathy on some levels despite her unusual attractions. It is an obvious precursor to the more extreme necrophilia-themed films that would follow, such as "Nekromantik," as well as the more introspective, quiet ones, like "Kissed." Not a terrible film overall, though it is certainly not for everyone. 6/10.
This early '70s effort is marketed as a horror film, and in some ways it is, but "Love Me Deadly" plays more like an oppressive chamber drama, drenched in gaudy colors, cheap-looking sets, and peppered with necrophilia sequences. Given the audacious subject matter here, one would think the film would edge into total exploitation, but it manages to keep its wits about it.
Necrophilia aside, the film's main horror angle is the funerary worker/leader of a Satanic necrophiliac cult which he wants the female protagonist to join. This plot element seems hackneyed and the actual nature of this "cult" is not entirely made clear (especially its alleged Satanic motivations, which are never really elucidated), and the film suffers slightly because of this. Mary Charlotte Wilcox portrays the leading character nicely, and the script attempts to unravel her sexual proclivities, tracing them back to a childhood trauma; at times the film reminded me of its contemporary, "The Witch Who Came out of the Sea," in that it deals with similar themes regarding childhood trauma, though it goes about them completely differently. Like many films of this ilk, "Love Me Deadly" also suffers from poor editing and dubbing, which is fairly common for grindhouse pictures of this type.
All in all, "Love Me Deadly" is a mildly entertaining horror film that is not nearly as disturbing as one might expect. The subject matter, though perverse, is handled well, and the lead character evokes sympathy on some levels despite her unusual attractions. It is an obvious precursor to the more extreme necrophilia-themed films that would follow, such as "Nekromantik," as well as the more introspective, quiet ones, like "Kissed." Not a terrible film overall, though it is certainly not for everyone. 6/10.
BORE GORE! Avoid at all cost
lobianco4 October 2001
This lame attempt at a sleaze horror drama lacks all key elements. Our prudish lead blonde never takes it off. There is no pay off here. Gore scenes are few and far between the insipid romance story book drama that will make you sick. The best acting here is done by corpses. Horror sleaze fans will be gravely displeased. Edited like a bad tv show the screen goes dark in between the scenes as if to break for commercial. Oh and be careful there is a huge homosexual element here. Actually the only nudity is male. This is not mentioned on the box cover and those who attempt to pass off these lame film as a cult hit also fail to mention it. A total disaster of a film you can't even laugh at. A soap opera is more compelling. Avoid at all cost.
Love me, love my dead body.
Hey_Sweden21 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
One wouldn't think it possible for filmmakers to make a somber, serious film about necrophilia - that particularly unusual taboo of having carnal relations with corpses. But they pull it off here, with this surprisingly sensitive and tasteful portrayal. Therefore, it's actually going to come as a crushing disappointment to exploitation film lovers hoping for something extremely trashy and depraved.
Under-rated '70s hottie Mary Wilcox ("Beast of the Yellow Night", "Black Oak Conspiracy") plays Lindsay Finch, an attractive young woman who seemingly can't maintain a normal relationship with guys. She's already tried once with the studly Wade (Christopher Stone), and comes at least somewhat close with nice guy art gallery owner Alex (Lyle Waggoner), but still is uncomfortable with the act of making love. She prefers her guys to be stiff in a different way. Approaching her is funeral home operator Fred McSweeney (Timothy Scott), whose other occupation is heading a cult that defiles dead bodies. She's horrified by this at first, but soon enough...
The film is written and directed by Jacques LaCerte (based on an idea concocted by Roger Wall and Robert Cleere) and produced by Buck Edwards, both of whom have uncredited bits. Not only is it not going to appeal to people with more extreme tastes, it also has the potential to bore some viewers as the pacing is quite deliberate, and despite the "sick" subject matter, the film is more of a drama than anything. In flashbacks we get to see that Lindsay was *very* close to her beloved father (Michael Pardue), and we get a sense of what life is like for her.
The good thing is that even in light of her predilection, the character of Lindsay is not exactly unsympathetic and Wilcox really does a nice job in the lead. The other familiar actors are all very good, as well: both Waggoner ('The Carol Burnett Show', 'Wonder Woman') and Stone ("The Howling", "Cujo") are quite likable, and under-rated character actor Scott ("Macon County Line", "The Party") graces the movie with an quietly effective, creepy performance. The score by Phil Moody and the very '70s tunes sung by Kit Fuller are good, and the cinematography by David Aaron helps to give the film a slick look.
All things considered, this is an interesting little production that understandably isn't too well known, but adventurous and patient cult movie lovers should find it a reasonably provocative viewing experience.
Trivia note: drive-in flick legend H.B. Halicki of "Gone in 60 Seconds" fame takes an associate producer credit, and has a role in the film as a racer.
Seven out of 10.
Under-rated '70s hottie Mary Wilcox ("Beast of the Yellow Night", "Black Oak Conspiracy") plays Lindsay Finch, an attractive young woman who seemingly can't maintain a normal relationship with guys. She's already tried once with the studly Wade (Christopher Stone), and comes at least somewhat close with nice guy art gallery owner Alex (Lyle Waggoner), but still is uncomfortable with the act of making love. She prefers her guys to be stiff in a different way. Approaching her is funeral home operator Fred McSweeney (Timothy Scott), whose other occupation is heading a cult that defiles dead bodies. She's horrified by this at first, but soon enough...
The film is written and directed by Jacques LaCerte (based on an idea concocted by Roger Wall and Robert Cleere) and produced by Buck Edwards, both of whom have uncredited bits. Not only is it not going to appeal to people with more extreme tastes, it also has the potential to bore some viewers as the pacing is quite deliberate, and despite the "sick" subject matter, the film is more of a drama than anything. In flashbacks we get to see that Lindsay was *very* close to her beloved father (Michael Pardue), and we get a sense of what life is like for her.
The good thing is that even in light of her predilection, the character of Lindsay is not exactly unsympathetic and Wilcox really does a nice job in the lead. The other familiar actors are all very good, as well: both Waggoner ('The Carol Burnett Show', 'Wonder Woman') and Stone ("The Howling", "Cujo") are quite likable, and under-rated character actor Scott ("Macon County Line", "The Party") graces the movie with an quietly effective, creepy performance. The score by Phil Moody and the very '70s tunes sung by Kit Fuller are good, and the cinematography by David Aaron helps to give the film a slick look.
All things considered, this is an interesting little production that understandably isn't too well known, but adventurous and patient cult movie lovers should find it a reasonably provocative viewing experience.
Trivia note: drive-in flick legend H.B. Halicki of "Gone in 60 Seconds" fame takes an associate producer credit, and has a role in the film as a racer.
Seven out of 10.
sickly movie ...
Sherparsa4 April 2014
sickly movie indeed, although it's not as harsh as many other sickly movies out there anyway ...
well, it was the times! and it still is somewhat today, perhaps even worse, with all the extremely gory movies of all types we're seeing in the last couple of decades or so ...
apparently there are people out there who do really enjoy this kind of movie, just as they probably do enjoy being necrophiliacs ...
for those seeking a full version of this movie, well, apparently there is one on YouTube, which i'm watching right now ...
so, if it's truly the original copy and if it's going to be taken down soon, then why not hurry up and take a look as well as download it for yourself?
well, it was the times! and it still is somewhat today, perhaps even worse, with all the extremely gory movies of all types we're seeing in the last couple of decades or so ...
apparently there are people out there who do really enjoy this kind of movie, just as they probably do enjoy being necrophiliacs ...
for those seeking a full version of this movie, well, apparently there is one on YouTube, which i'm watching right now ...
so, if it's truly the original copy and if it's going to be taken down soon, then why not hurry up and take a look as well as download it for yourself?
Baby's in Black
mdstudio-7542523 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Mary Wilcox, as Lindsay Finch, is a west coast girl who enjoys the new found sexual freedom afforded to modern womanhood, which is, however, a mixed blessing for the dudes she's drawn to since she likes her men like she likes her household pests, namely dead. Mary is an attractive blond who paints the town black in her mourning attire, seemingly unable to get enthusiastic over anyone with a pulse until she meets Alex Martin played by Lyle Waggoner ( of the Carol Burnette Show ). At that point the motif of the film becomes more of a " Love American Style " presentation, promising the hope of young love, yet undermined by occasional hints of Lindsay's repressed necrophilic tendencies. She appears to be on the road to recovery until she sees an ambulance pass by and her eyes widen in anticipatory glee, realizing that something may still be amiss. Unable to get it on with Alex, she is drawn into a crew that initiates her into a death/ sex ritual cult, where she finally succeeds in getting her non mainstream sensual desires fulfilled, like having her ashes hauled while skipping the crematorium, however Alex stumbles into the plan and decides the whole necromancy thing needs to come to a halt already. Alex can't stand the idea of losing his true love, especially to a dead guy. The leads, if not necessarily great actors, bring a certain verve to their roles, creating largely sympathetic characters that flesh out a compelling story line. The film has a made-for-TV style quality which feels just right for this production. Somewhere out there on a slab, Lindsay's future sweetheart is toe tagged for a tryst.
Well-Made, Compelling Thriller for Its Time
brianehl219 April 2006
Actually quite a well-made and off-beat thriller for its time; a Mr. Lobianco who wrote another "review" actually sounds quite a bit on the homophobic side, as the film has a brief bit of gay content but certainly NOT the "gay plot" he has it being. And there is certainly nothing wrong in the least with having gay content in a film to begin with. Actually well worth the time of viewing it; but out-of-print now to my knowledge. Mary Wilcox is not bad at all in the lead role; Lyle Waggoner is as wooden as a board as her devoted hubby; I saw no traces of a satanic cult in evidence, despite what a couple other viewers wrote. Definitely a necrophiliac cult, but satanism is not mentioned. The film's topic would be unusual in a film even today, let alone 1972 when the film originally played theaters. Actually quite surprising none of the multiple DVD companies have ever released this on home video, nor to my knowledge do they have an plans to do so. Considering some of the utter rubbish put out on the medium, it would be nice if one of them would make this available in a widescreen transfer for home libraries.
Woah...
BandSAboutMovies7 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Lindsay Finch (Mary Charlotte Wilcox, The Beast of the Yellow Night and Psychic Killer) loves to go to funerals, where she mourns and then kisses the dead men passionately after everyone else leaves. Throw in a theme song that sounds like it comes out of James Bond while we see flashbacks of her relationship with her dead father and visiting his grave and pigtails and I'm all in.
She has swinging hippie parties at her pad and her friend Wade (Christopher Stone, the late husband of Dee Wallace who appeared with her in Cujo and The Howling) tries to get with her. Just when it seems she's giving in to his makeout moves, she screams at him to stop and he calls her a bitch, because this is 1973. She dreams of her father in yellow hued flashbacks and hugs a stuffed animal.
Later, she goes through the funeral notices to find the services for young men. We then meet Fred McSweeney, a mortician, as he picks up a male prostitute. That job is just a cover for his true love - a Satanic coven that meets at night, inside the mortuary, where they have orgies with dead bodies. McSweeney takes the young man to his workplace where he pumps the manwhore full of embalming fluid while he's still alive, all while Lindsay goes to another funeral where she tries to make out with Bobby. She's surprised by Alex (Lyle Waggoner, TV's The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman, as well as the honor of being the first nude centerfold in Playgirl and the appointed mayor of Encino, California), the man's brother.
Speaking of that embalming scene, it goes on and on and on, with the young man screaming, "I'm blind!" over and over. It's nearly campy instead of frightening. To say this film has an issue with tone is an understatement.
Lindsay sneaks out to Bobby's funeral, where she starts to associate Alex with her father. He's a rich gallery owner and they begin a romance - one she refuses to consummate, even after they are eventually married. Every time she sees him, we get yellow hued flashbacks with a music box soundtrack of her playing with her father. But more about that in a little, OK?
McSweeney speaks to Lindsay after he catches her at a funeral, telling her that he has a group that she should join. Yet she tries to remain normal, even going on a date with Wade that fails. That's when she decides to see what McSweeney's group is all about.
She walks into an orgy with the dead, which freaks her out enough to go back home. Then she and Alex fall in love with no dialogue, just a montage. It's a strange part of an incredibly strange film, with this happy go lucky relationship coming out of nowhere in a film otherwise about sex with dead people.
Lindsay keeps talking to the cult and ends up getting a dead body of her very own. But Wade follows her and is killed by McSweeney. She screams in horror. This scene wasn't n the original script, nor was the Satanic group in the one that follows, but were used to pad out the film and add more horror elements so that it would potentially play drive-ins better.
Again - tone being all over the place - we're treated to a nude cult disrobing Wade's corpse and having their way with it before Lindsay awakes screaming. But the marriage isn't working out well, with Alex following her all over town and their maid - complete with the most stereotypical Irish accent ever - telling him that his wife spends her days at her father's grave, wearing pigtails and dressed like a little girl. You should see the look on Alex's face when he catches her as she yells, "This is not your place, go away!"
Alex tries to get Lindsay to go on a holiday to visit his mother, but he discovers a registered letter from McSweeney to his wife for a meeting at 10 PM. He follows her to the mortuary where he discovers his wife surrounded by nude devil worshippers as she makes love to a dead body. She looks frightened and then McSweeney murders Alex, which calms her.
McSweeney drugs her as she lies in her bed, then brings in her husband, now embalmed so he can last forever, finally a man who she can be attracted to: the combination of her father - who we see in flashback being shot accidentally by her - and the man she fell in love with. The editing here - combined with dissonate instruments and a remix of the title theme - is crazy, like this film has suddenly become Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
We see intercut shots of Linday getting under the covers with her dead husband and her getting in the coffin with her father as everything goes sepia tone and the theme song returns.
Love Me Deadly isn't for everyone. It's one of those films that I hesitate to recommend to normal folks. But it is the kind of movie I text people about in the middle of the night.
She has swinging hippie parties at her pad and her friend Wade (Christopher Stone, the late husband of Dee Wallace who appeared with her in Cujo and The Howling) tries to get with her. Just when it seems she's giving in to his makeout moves, she screams at him to stop and he calls her a bitch, because this is 1973. She dreams of her father in yellow hued flashbacks and hugs a stuffed animal.
Later, she goes through the funeral notices to find the services for young men. We then meet Fred McSweeney, a mortician, as he picks up a male prostitute. That job is just a cover for his true love - a Satanic coven that meets at night, inside the mortuary, where they have orgies with dead bodies. McSweeney takes the young man to his workplace where he pumps the manwhore full of embalming fluid while he's still alive, all while Lindsay goes to another funeral where she tries to make out with Bobby. She's surprised by Alex (Lyle Waggoner, TV's The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman, as well as the honor of being the first nude centerfold in Playgirl and the appointed mayor of Encino, California), the man's brother.
Speaking of that embalming scene, it goes on and on and on, with the young man screaming, "I'm blind!" over and over. It's nearly campy instead of frightening. To say this film has an issue with tone is an understatement.
Lindsay sneaks out to Bobby's funeral, where she starts to associate Alex with her father. He's a rich gallery owner and they begin a romance - one she refuses to consummate, even after they are eventually married. Every time she sees him, we get yellow hued flashbacks with a music box soundtrack of her playing with her father. But more about that in a little, OK?
McSweeney speaks to Lindsay after he catches her at a funeral, telling her that he has a group that she should join. Yet she tries to remain normal, even going on a date with Wade that fails. That's when she decides to see what McSweeney's group is all about.
She walks into an orgy with the dead, which freaks her out enough to go back home. Then she and Alex fall in love with no dialogue, just a montage. It's a strange part of an incredibly strange film, with this happy go lucky relationship coming out of nowhere in a film otherwise about sex with dead people.
Lindsay keeps talking to the cult and ends up getting a dead body of her very own. But Wade follows her and is killed by McSweeney. She screams in horror. This scene wasn't n the original script, nor was the Satanic group in the one that follows, but were used to pad out the film and add more horror elements so that it would potentially play drive-ins better.
Again - tone being all over the place - we're treated to a nude cult disrobing Wade's corpse and having their way with it before Lindsay awakes screaming. But the marriage isn't working out well, with Alex following her all over town and their maid - complete with the most stereotypical Irish accent ever - telling him that his wife spends her days at her father's grave, wearing pigtails and dressed like a little girl. You should see the look on Alex's face when he catches her as she yells, "This is not your place, go away!"
Alex tries to get Lindsay to go on a holiday to visit his mother, but he discovers a registered letter from McSweeney to his wife for a meeting at 10 PM. He follows her to the mortuary where he discovers his wife surrounded by nude devil worshippers as she makes love to a dead body. She looks frightened and then McSweeney murders Alex, which calms her.
McSweeney drugs her as she lies in her bed, then brings in her husband, now embalmed so he can last forever, finally a man who she can be attracted to: the combination of her father - who we see in flashback being shot accidentally by her - and the man she fell in love with. The editing here - combined with dissonate instruments and a remix of the title theme - is crazy, like this film has suddenly become Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
We see intercut shots of Linday getting under the covers with her dead husband and her getting in the coffin with her father as everything goes sepia tone and the theme song returns.
Love Me Deadly isn't for everyone. It's one of those films that I hesitate to recommend to normal folks. But it is the kind of movie I text people about in the middle of the night.
Alright....
Hateful Kunt19 February 2003
Hmm...well i have no idea why this is rated slow low. Cool 70's fashion, a chick that's into necrophilia and ......Lyle Waggoner! Although this plays like a TV movie from the 70's with nudity, some gore and chicks fu**ing dead dudes, it's actually pretty good! The corpse loving isn't the thing that's messed up in this flick.......it's the beginning when the credits are rolling that you know things have gone into 42nd street sleaze. I wonder if Lyle Waggoner had this on his resume when he auditioned for Carol Burnett!
Better than you think
haildevilman17 June 2006
Necrophilia has never been what one could call box office gold.
This film tackled the subject admirably. Mary Wilcox plays a repressed necro whose secret gets made by a local with the same tastes.
There's also a subplot about him accosting gay hustlers for that reason as well.
A sick premise. But it was done very well. The acting was decent and the music was pretty good too. The outdoor scenes were also worth a look for their cinematography.
This is one of the brightest fear films I've ever scene.
It is slow moving. A lot of long romantic parts. And her self-discovery is handled with a lot of melodrama. If your looking for jump-shocks, not here. But there is good acting and slow fear coming.
I won't tell you the back story. See it for yourself.
This film tackled the subject admirably. Mary Wilcox plays a repressed necro whose secret gets made by a local with the same tastes.
There's also a subplot about him accosting gay hustlers for that reason as well.
A sick premise. But it was done very well. The acting was decent and the music was pretty good too. The outdoor scenes were also worth a look for their cinematography.
This is one of the brightest fear films I've ever scene.
It is slow moving. A lot of long romantic parts. And her self-discovery is handled with a lot of melodrama. If your looking for jump-shocks, not here. But there is good acting and slow fear coming.
I won't tell you the back story. See it for yourself.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
