Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Sex Is Crazy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 18, 2023

Jess Franco's "Sex is Crazy" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with film scholar Dr. Alex Mendibil; new program with critic and author Stephen Thrower; and more. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Goofy aliens

Even by Jess Franco standards, which can be grouped into several categories of their own, Sex is Crazy is, well, a crazy film. In fact, it is so crazy that I am quite certain Franco conceived it as a wicked experiment to gauge just how tolerant Spanish censors could be of his work after censorship laws were eased.

The film opens with a provocative disclaimer: “Any similarities between the events and characters in this film and real life are merely coincidental. Actually, such coincidence would leave us perplexed, as real life, unfortunately, is less maddening and stimulating. Our authors simply wish to reflect, without pretension, the world of erotic dreams, of the horny imaginations of two couples on a more or less pornographic shoot.” Immediately after the disclaimer, a voice with an electronic timbre begins directing a very unerotic impregnating session featuring… well, either adult actors or advanced alien creatures. From there, the film enters a rabbit hole that is so twisted that it is pretty much impossible to tell what is real and surreal. Franco, possibly imitating Alfred Hitchcock, or perhaps Jean-Luc Godard, is often seen directing and heard giving instructions, but he is also an active character in the madness.

To make things even more interesting, or confusing, Franco begins following closely four characters: Baxter (Antonio Mayans using his alias Robert Foster), who could be a former alien infiltrator that has abandoned his masters to enjoy all the sins, and sex in particular, that corrupt the humans; Foncesca (Franco’s muse, Lina Romay, using her alias Candy Coster), who is either an adult star or a spy; Flanagan (Tony Skios), a playboy with an oddly evolving personality; and Lynn (Lynn Anderson) who could be an adult performer, a spy, and, depending on her mood, several other things. As the four characters become close and begin engaging in various carnal games, Franco then pushes the film into The Other Side, a most fluid place that he patented over the years, where virtually all of his films evolve into unique cinematic seances.

But Sex is Crazy does a couple of things that other similar Franco films do not. Once it transitions to The Other Side it eliminates the crumbs that make it possible to recognize the way back to reality, or at least Franco’s reality, and then discovers a new path that leads to an even more unusual place. So, instead of transitioning in and out of The Other Side while maintaining an obvious bond with Franco’s reality, Sex is Crazy begins moving from The Other Side to the new place and back. But why exactly?

I do not know the answer. I have a few good guesses, but while they seem logical to me, they may not seem logical to you. I am going to share them, but if you decide to see Sex is Crazy, you will most likely discover that there are more ways to explain what takes place in it.

Sex is Crazy has an unmissable sense of humor that permeates the crazy in it. Indeed, all of the chatter about aliens, spies, and impregnating sessions is just a ruse that allows Franco to satirize the many ways in which the two sexes interact and validate their carnal desires. That Franco is seen participating and filming himself participating in the satirizing is a witty exclamation point on this particular read of Sex is Crazy too, though I feel very comfortable stating that it is also a jab at ‘intellectual’ filmmakers like Godard and his New Wave pals.

Good drugs and quality alcohol were used all the time by Franco and his stars. I am sorry, but there is no need to speculate that it was so because the alcohol can be seen in numerous sequences. Filming the drugs was risky and, more importantly, not needed. Acting and producing quality material while under the influence of drugs was the goal, which judging by the end result was accomplished.

All similar films that Franco directed have a few sequences where it looks and feels like he is not fully in control of some intimate activities. You can see great examples in Cries of Pleasure and Macumba Sexual, which come from the same period as well. In Sex Crazy, this happens a lot, so the crazy is greatly exacerbated by it.

Sex Is Crazy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Sex is Crazy arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

The release is sourced from a very strong organic master that was apparently struck from the original camera negative. Considering how Jess Franco shot many of his film, and how the ones from his Spanish period that Severin Films has released look on Blu-ray, Sex is Crazy might be the best looking one. Indeed, excluding a few scattered white nicks that pop up here and there, I think that the visuals look as good as one could hope they would. For example, the density levels of the visuals are consistently very good, and delineation, clarity, and depth remain pleasing throughout the entire film. Virtually all darker footage, which in Franco's films is rarely evenly lit, looks great, too. Color balance is convincing. The primaries are healthy and solid. The supporting nuances appear equally strong, too. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is very good. My score is 4.25/5.00. (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).

Sex Is Crazy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English yellow subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The exchanges are clear and easy to follow. However, many can be quite uneven at times because of the way in which Franco chooses to shoot different sequences that welcome plenty of organic sounds and noises. The jazzy/psychedelic music is clear and sharp. Dynamic intensity is modest, but this is hardly surprising. The English translation is excellent.

Sex Is Crazy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Jess is Crazy - in this recent program, Spanish film scholar Dr. Alex Mendibil discusses Jess Franco's return to Spain after years of living abroad and the evolution of his work after censorship laws were eased. The narrative structures, tone, and visual style of Sex is Crazy are discussed as well. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (23 min).

• Franco/Godard - in this recent program, Stephen Thrower, author of Flowers of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco, discuss the exact period in which Sex is Crazy was conceived and shot, as well as how it is representative of Jess Franco's evolving style. In English, not subtitled. (50 min).

• In the Land of Franco: Part Seven - back in January of 2020, Severin Films released a promotional trailer for Stephen Thrower's exclusive new program In The Land of Franco in which he visits various locations throughout Europe where Jess Franco shot many of his popular cult films. Presented here is part five of the program. In English and French, with English subtitles where necessary. (25 min).

Sex Is Crazy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What exactly is going on Sex is Crazy? It is very difficult to tell. However, Sex is Crazy very quickly transitions to The Other Side, a most fluid place a lot of Jess Franco's films visit, and from there moves to an even stranger place, which is impossible to describe. Goofy aliens, loopy spies, sex addicts, drugged sleepwalkers, this place is full of bizarre characters, and Franco is one of them. I think that Sex is Crazy was a wicked experiment to gauge just how tolerant Spanish censors could be of Franco's work after he terminated his self-imposed exile, but there are a couple of other legitimately crazy scenarios that seem logical as well. Severin's release introduces a lovely new 2K restoration of Sex is Crazy with a small but excellent selection of recent bonus features. It is Region-Free. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.