Deep Inside (1968) User Reviews

Deep Inside

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 11 August 2022]

Cannon was making money on Joe Sarno's films, getting them into theaters as Sarno divided his time making movies in the United States and in Sweden, Germany and Denmark. His early films are stark black and white affairs and life is never easy for anyone within them. Also, the phrase Deep Inside is the greatest adult title ever and would eventually be used along with the names of actresses, such as Sarno's uncredited X-rated Inside Jennifer Welles and Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle.

Millicent Redmond (Peggy Steffans, the Findlay Flesh trilogy) is a woman who is frigid in bed and therefore gets her pleasure manipulating others, like seeing what kind of trouble she can get Lina (Mary Park) into; plays around with the relationship between her old lesbian roommates Neva (Tia Walter) and Jean (Sheila Britt, The Swap and How They Make It); heats up older lesbian who loves younger women Mavis (Bella Donna, not the Belladonna whose retirement still makes one wistful) and gets Pam (Lara Danielli) involved with the absolute wrong man.

Sarno's movies have an existential sadness that I absolutely love. I can only imagine what raincoaters felt about these movies, already worried about being in public watching filth, worried about the cops coming in and then the movie they went up against so much just depresses them beyond comprehension.

Not lost just unloved

[Muswellmedia · 9/10 · 4 October 2009]

Deep Inside-viewed at a private screening at BFI London. For those who may have difficulty viewing this film the plot is roughly as follows, A group of girlfriends arrive at Fire Island a New York resort for an annual reunion. Millicent played as a magnificent malcontent in the Iago mould by Peggy Steffans engineers discord amongst her venal coterie until they realise her schemes and turn away from her. Sarno's repertory company of the time give committed performances in material that would not have been out of place in Douglas Sirks canon. The result is superior entertainment in any genre overlooked or ignored because of its place in the Grindhouse circuit, the success of Sarno's output amongst the raincoat brigade suggests that they have qualities of discernment they are not generally granted with. The mystery is why Sarno's work went unsung during the cineaste 70's and is only now being discovered by a few aficionados. Seek it out where you can!