SS Experiment Love Camp Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

SS Experiment Love Camp Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 23, 2025

Sergio Garrone's "SS Experiment Love Camp" (1976) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with director Sergio Garrone; new program with cinematographer Maurizio Centini; new program with editor Eugenio Alabiso; new program with music historian Pierpaolo De Santcs; new audio commentary by Italian cinema experts Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti; and more. In English and Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

I am a firm believer that viewing bad films from time to time is a very healthy habit. First, it helps you gain a greater appreciation for the good ones. There is a fair chance that in some of these bad films, you are going to see some of your favorite actors who struggled early in their careers before they became stars. You will discover a different side of their personalities, which, in the present day, they can no longer reveal. Second, a lot of the older bad films can also be fascinating time capsules. While viewing them, you will learn about the era in which they were made and the various rules and standards that defined it. Third, there is a pretty good chance you will also discover that, amongst the many bad films that have been rejected by critics and even the studios that produced them, there are actually some real gems.

Sergio Garrone’s SS Experiment Camp Love Camp is without a doubt one of the top bad films you can see. It has been banned (and unbanned) so many times and dismissed in so many articles, I honestly doubt that anyone who is old enough to remember the big independent video stores that Blockbuster and Netflix killed has not heard about it. It is a legendary film, though one that has been dismissed for all the right reasons.

So why is SS Experiment Love Camp so bad? I will tell you why I do not think highly of it, but I am convinced that if you decide to research it, you will discover many more valid reasons why it is not considered a masterpiece.

It is a period piece that tells a very simple and very silly story. It makes very little sense, but, admittedly, some of the material is good enough to rub people who believe that these types of genre films should be taken seriously the wrong way. (This is a very, very old cinematic recipe, which has been used to produce plenty of poor films). In a WW2 camp, some Nazis begin a series of idiotic experiments with beautiful women so that eventually the commandant can get a new pair of testicles. The focus of attention is on the sexual acts and the tortures, which is why a long time ago SS Experiment Love Camp appeared on the notorious 'video nasty' list in the United Kingdom.

While some of the visuals are appropriately repulsive, the overwhelming majority of the material is simply boring. Many of the actors look and sound utterly ridiculous, very much as if they are participating in a testing session for which they showed up unprepared. A few of the more ambitious ones are clearly trying to improvise, but the improvisations are so poor that they can be used as a great example of how not to act, even during a rehearsal.

The sets and costumes are also very cheap. Tinto Brass must have seen this film at some point because it was released in 1976 when he completed his similarly themed Salon Kitty, and I am convinced that he must have had a good, long laugh. Brass’ film features some absolutely astonishing designs from Oscar-winner Ken Adam (Diamonds Are Forever, Barry Lyndon) and impeccable costume designs by Jost Jacob (Paprika) that basically make SS Experiment Camp Love Camp look like a genuine amateur project.

Garrone was paired with cinematographer Maurizio Centini, whose credits also include Alberto Cavallone’s equally controversial horror thriller Blue Movie.

SS Experiment Love Camp Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, SS Experiment Love Camp arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

SS Experiment Love Camp made its high-definition debut with this release, again produced by 88 Films, in 2015. This upcoming release introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration of the film, which is also available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack. I viewed the 4K restoration in native 4K and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

The original release offered a dated presentation of the film with obvious limitations that made it appear quite flat and anemic. The new 4K restoration brings a significant upgrade in quality. The entire film now looks noticeably lusher and healthier, though there are still areas of it that reveal small fluctuations in terms of density. Color reproduction and balance are superior as well. Primaries and supporting nuances are rebalanced and better set, and quite a few are significantly healthier. Highlights and shadow nuances look better, which is why depth is significantly improved as well. In our review of the combo pack, I mentioned that the drunken party looks great, but even some of the disturbing experiments look a lot better now. I did not see any traces of problematic digital corrections. In summary, if you wish to own a quality copy of this scandalous film, both the Blu-ray and combo pack are terrific options. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

SS Experiment Love Camp Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English LPCM 2.0 and Italian LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH (for the former) and English (for the latter) subtitles are provided.

I viewed the 4K restoration of SS Experiment Love Camp in native 4K and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

I revisited the film with the English track. All exchanges are easy to follow. However, the English overdubbing can be a bit thin and uneven, which, of course, should not surprise folks who have good experience with Italian genre films. Dynamic intensity is very limited. This release has different English subtitles, which I think are better. I did not encounter any audio dropouts, pops, cracks, or distortions to report.

SS Experiment Love Camp Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Sadistically Yours, Sergio G. - in this exclusive new program, Sergio Garrone reveals what motivated him to shoot SS Experiment Love Camp and why it was important to make it as repulsive as possible. Garrone also comments on its reception and reputation as a bad cult film. In Italian, with English subtitles. (31 min).

• SSadist SSound - in this exclusive new program, music historian Pierpaolo De Santcs discusses the life and legacy of composer Roberto Pregadio, who scored SS Experiment Love Camp. In Italian, with English subtitles. (29 min).

• The Alabiso Dynasty - in this exclusive new program, editor Eugenio Alabiso explains how he entered the Italian film industry and discusses his involvement with SS Experiment Love Camp. In Italian, with English subtitles. (26 min).

• Framing Exploitation - in this exclusive new program, cinematographer Maurizio Centini discusses the early stages of his career and explains how he was offered the opportunity to lense SS Experiment Love Camp. Centini also comments on various other genre projects he worked on. In Italian, with English subtitles. (12 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Italian cinema experts Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti.

• Original Italian Opening and Closing Titles - with music. (3 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered international trailer for SS Experiment Love Camp. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Tim Murray and technical credits.

• Cover - reversible cover.

SS Experiment Love Camp Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

For many years, SS Experiment Love Camp was a collector's item that, in some places, could easily get collectors into some serious trouble. It had a very bad reputation. Its reputation is meaningless to me. However, I think that it is a bad film, even by Naziploitation Cinema standards, because it looks very cheap and does not have a proper magnet, like Dyanne Thorne, to make the silly look attractive. This upcoming combo pack is a gift for collectors who collect these types of scandalous films, many of which were once placed on the notorious 'video nasty' list in the United Kingdom. It introduces a very well done 4K restoration of SS Experiment Love Camp with a terrific selection of bonus features, one of which is a genuinely illuminating interview with director Sergio Garrone. 88 Films are bringing an identical Blu-ray release and 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack release to America as well. You can see our listings of these releases here and here.