NIGHT OF THE COBRA WOMAN

(director: Andrew Meyer; screenwriters: Kerry Magness/story by Kerry Magness & Andrew Meyer; cinematographer: Raul Martinez Solares; editors: Barbara Pokras/Gervacio Santos; music: Restie Umali; cast: Joy Bang (Joanna), Marlene Clark (Lena Aruza), Roger Garrett (Stan Duff), Slash Marks (Sergeant Merkle), Vic Diaz (Japanese Soldier / Lopé), Rosemarie Gil (Francisca, Lope’s mother), Bert Rivera (Ramon); Runtime: 85; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Roger Corman/Harvey Marks/; New World Pictures; 1972-USA/Philippines)

“The off-beat jungle tale could satisfy those looking for a weird bad film, one that could provide a few laughs.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

An exotic exploitation film about a Filipino snake cult, that’s shot in Manilla. It’s poorly directed by Andrew Meyer (“The Sky Pirate”), a former Warhol protege. Roger Corman is the producer. It’s based on a preposterous story by Meyer and Kerry Magness, that’s played straight. The acting is awful. The production values are cheap.

In the prologue, during the Second World War, two nurses visit a cave with snake symbols. One nurse is raped outside by a Japanese soldier, the other nurse Lena (Marlene Clark) is bitten by a snake that gives her eternal life and makes her a jungle priestess. She’s in a half-snake state and in need of both the cobra’s venom and constant sex in order not to age. Biology student Joanna (Joy Bang) and her boyfriend Duff (Roger Garrett) venture into the jungle, where Duff is seduced by the Cobra Woman. Joanna flees the jungle in fear of her life. When Duff no longer can provide sex to the demanding Cobra Woman, things turn even more absurd. When she’s overwhelmed by her predicament, Lena becomes a cobra and Duff is sacrificed to her. The off-beat jungle tale could satisfy those looking for a weird bad film, one that could provide a few laughs.

REVIEWED ON 4/25/2016 GRADE: C-