SAINT FRANCIS (2007)
Directed by EZRA ALLEN GOULD
Review by PHIL ALLELY



Released by Salvation Films
Running Time: 7 minutes
Rating: NR
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: English
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: widescreen 16:9
16:9 Enhanced: Yes
Special Features: extended scenes, music video, stills gallery, trailers
Trailer Online: No

This release by Salvation Films will probably find its fan base picking it up without even reading the cover notes. That is because it is the first feature film to star burlesque performer Dita Von Teese. It has to be said that she certainly does smoulder on the screen and holds your attention during every appearance here.

SAINT FRANCIS has a very odd plot it must be said though, the concept is that Dita is one of three children and her father is a renowned, rich and very corrupt TV preacher. One of her brothers is a drug addled mess and the other is up to his neck in debt. Dita’s character (Soul) is a business woman of sorts seemingly managing a number of call girls and being involved in porn movie shoots.

This dysfunctional family all seem to have seen their live change when their mother/wife committed suicide and left them to fend for themselves in the big bad world. Our story here follows younger brother Francis, he may be a drug addict with a penchant for peeping on young ladies, but overall he seems to be the best of a bad bunch. It is through Francis that we watch the sordid and murderous tale unfold.

In a blur of sex, violence, drugs and ultimate salvation we watch the disparate crew of characters weave their way through their dark and seedy world. Each one digging a deeper moral hole for themselves along the way. This film is a bit jumpy in its storytelling, but that in a way helps the punchy story move along. The bizarre images, sick ideas, soft core sex and disturbing nature of the key characters certainly do make you watch this picture intently.

SAINT FRANCIS is not a vehicle for the smouldering Ms Teese to strut her stuff, she has a thoroughly entertaining role here, but hers is only one amongst the many we need to understand to see the full picture unfold in this unsavoury family flick. The director also throws us a curve ball or two by interspersing some scenes with images of an operation on Francis, we then see his ultimate downfall and a chance for him to redeem himself through his actions.

What transpires in this films duration is a tale of love, loss, self-mutilation, humiliation, degradation, drug addiction, violence and lies. Many of these orchestrated by a very sultry Dita Von Teese, in one way or another. Although there is a fairly short (but fast moving) runtime in the finished production, the filmmakers have been thoughtful and added in many extras to help pad out a film that really doesn’t require it. The deleted scenes may not add to the finished product, but for fans of soft core films they’ll certainly appeal, the rest of the added features are sufficient to please a curious fan or two I‘m sure.

SAINT FRANCIS may not be the sort of picture that bothers too many film festival awards panels, but it will certainly appeal to a core market and of course the many fans of Marilyn Manson’s ex-wife too. As a stepping stone for the acting career of Diva Von Teese I’d say this is a very good step indeed, look out for her to adorn some more mainstream films sometime soon.