Easily one of Franco’s crowning achievements, Bloody Moon opens at a disco infused costume pool party.  From behind some bushes we’re introduced to Miguel (Alexander Waechter), a meatloaf-faced madcap, as he scouts out women at the party.  After procuring a Mickey Mouse mask he approaches the object of his affection, and they retire to her place, but when she finds out he’s not who she thinks he is, her evening is halted with a pair of scissors to her chest.  Flash forward 5-years and Miguel is being released from a mental hospital, into the custody of his sister Manuela (Nadja Gerganoff), at their Aunt Countess Maria’s (María Rubio) boarding school (the International Youth - Club Boarding School of Languages).   Shortly after Miguel’s return, Countess Maria is mysteriously burned to death, and then one by one the schools luscious co-eds are bumped off.  This unearths a slasher plot in which anyone could be the culprit.  Is it the obvious Miguel?  Could it be the retarded gardener?  Is it Manuela or one of the school girls?

Throughout the film, Miguel is made out to be a mega creep.  He stalks the campus grounds, staring in windows as women shower, watches from behind bushes as if he is up to his old tricks again.  With several red herrings that are thrown in the film, you never really know who the killer is, or the true motivations behind the killings, which keeps you guessing until the grand finale.  What we do know is that the murders are down and dirty.  The violent highlight of Bloody Moon is of course the saw mill sequence in which a girl is fed to a hefty circular saw as a fountain of blood flows freely, all whilst a young boy watches.

The plot here is barely existent, and a lot of the goings-on are a tad odd, but hey, this is a Franco film after all.  When Angela (Olivia Pascal, Vanessa), one of the school’s students witnesses her friend Eva stabbed to death (straight through the boob no doubt) no one believes her, and everyone seems to have an unnaturally passive reaction to the murders.  In one instance Angela tries to tell a guy of her friend’s demise: “She’d been stabbed in the breast, it was horrible”, to which he dismisses it by saying “Dream about me instead Angela, you’ll sleep better.”  This adds to the charm of this Franco film though.  It wouldn’t be a Franco film without a little absurdity. 

Bloody Moon, or Die Säge des Todes, as the original German title card suggests is a stylish slasher film.  Aside from a few brief blips, Franco refreshingly leaves the filmmaking folly at the door.  Unlike Franco’s previously released film, Devil Hunter from Severin Films, here Franco showcases his cinematic prowess, but still packs in the perverse goodness expected of a Franco film.   Bloody Moon is crammed with a cluster of nudity.  When the girls aren’t learning Spanish or playing tennis, they’re sunbathing topless or being bludgeoned to death.  There’s also an incestuous subplot involving Miguel and Manuela.  Seedy goodness aside, there is one off-putting scene in Bloody Moon that involves a snake getting its head lopped off by a pair of gardening sheers for no good reason.  Had this scene not existed, the film would have been better off.  With that said, no one’s going to cry over a snake killed 27-years ago.  The pointlessness of the scene just merited pointing out.

Franco’s ultimate goal in making Bloody Moon was to build tension and a certain amount of suspense rather than merely one kill scene after the other, and he adequately accomplished his goal.  Bloody Moon would pair nicely with Juan Piquer Simón’s Pieces as a double billing.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
- Interview - Trailer Once highly sought after on the bootleg circuit of the 90’s now Severin Films releases this quintessential Franco prize uncut and uncensored for the first time ever in America.  The presentation here is as luscious and vibrant as it’s going to get.  The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital Mono.  For the supplements we get the requisite entertaining Jess Franco interview titled ‘Franco’s Moon’ where he talks about the production of the film.  He mentions the promise of a Pink Floyd soundtrack and a certain FX man that fell through.   He also compares horror to porn and discusses how he wanted to present Bloody Moon in a more suspenseful way.  Rounding out the extras is an English trailer that shows all the good bits.  Praiseworthy also is Severin’s animated circular saw menu design!
RATING:
VIDEO: 1.85:1 / 16:9
AUDIO: Dolby Digital Mono
DVD: Severin Films
MOVIE: "Bloody Moon "