On the other side of the mirror (V.O. Le miroir obscéne)

France, 1973

Director: Jesús Franco

Screenplay: Jesús Franco

Cast:

Emma Cohen (Anette), Robert Woods (Bill)

Plot

The young pianist Anette (Emma Cohen) is about to marry her fiancé. Shortly before the wedding, her sister commits suicide. The wedding is not only postponed, but also cancelled; Anette separates from her fiancé, leaves her father’s house and becomes independent, going to work in a jazz club, which also functions as a prostitution den. There she meets a colleague with whom she has lesbian relations (which are explicitly shown). At the same time she has a new suitor, who is a theater actor. One day, calling at home, she learns that her father has committed suicide by hanging himself. From that moment on, Anette begins to have hallucinations, hearing the voice of her dead sister speaking to her from a mirror and inciting her to commit crimes. She will also try to take her own life (by slitting her wrists in the bathtub), but is rescued in time.

Commentary

The extremely prolific Jess Franco directed more than 200 films throughout his career (under numerous pseudonyms to avoid saturating the film market). Among his works there are some productions of great interest and artistic quality (such as the adaptation of the Marquis de Sade’s “Justine”, with an exquisite Romina Power), but what abounds most are B or Z films (some of which are, however, extremely funny); and also unbearable bodrios (particularly, the films made in recent years). This film (whose original title is “Le Mirail Obscéne”) does not fall into any of these three categories. It is neither a marvel, nor a “trashy but entertaining” production, nor is it a piece of garbage. It is simply mediocre, boring and dispensable; at least the French version that I have seen, and that from what I have read is mutilated in some scenes. Overrated, despite its promising plot, it does not hook the viewer as for example the suspense of the master Chicho Ibáñez Serrador or many of the Italian gialli of those years.