Queens of Evil

With no fixed destination, young free spirit David rides his motorcycle around. One night he meets a man whom he helps with a flat tire. The man lectures him on morality and secretly sticks a nail in the front tire of David's motorcycle. When David chases the man on his motorcycle, the man suffers a fatal accident. David drives on and spends the night in what appears to be an abandoned barn. The next morning, he is awakened by the pretty Liv. She lives with her two friends Samantha and Bibiana in a stylishly furnished but secluded forest house. David feels very comfortable with the three women and decides to spend some time there. The women show him a nearby castle where a person's fate is to be determined overnight. When David observes the three of them performing a mysterious ritual in the forest, he begins to have doubts. What goal are the three women pursuing?

Queens of Evil is a difficult film to classify. It oscillates somewhere between drama and mystery horror and picks up on various hippie motifs. The film picks up ideas of the 1969 movement, which are packed into the context of the bizarre plot. However, the exact message remains somewhat obscure for long stretches. Apart from that, the film quickly draws you in. It stars Ray Lovelock and Evelyn Stewart. Director Tonino Cervi made the Bud Spencer film Today It's Me... Tomorrow It's You!

Shorter version on US Blu-ray

Queens of Evil has been difficult to watch until now. In addition to VHS releases in the UK and Italy, the film was released on DVD in Japan and Italy. The Japanese DVD is said to be based on a French version. From Mondo Macabro, the first Blu-ray of the film was released on March 9, 2021. Compared to the Italian DVD, this is a shorter version in which various scenes have been lightly trimmed. The cuts are well placed and speed up the film a bit. Especially the scene where David and Samantha run through the forest is much better and more dynamic on the Mondo Macabro Blu-ray. The scenes where David runs through the woods or takes a peek into the women's closets have also been pleasantly shortened. It is difficult to judge whether the Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is cut or the Italian DVD is a longer version or an alternate cut. All of these options are possible.

If only for the excellent picture quality and the bonus material, which includes an interview with Ray Lovelock, the Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is worth a purchase. Those who are interested in the film can therefore definitely go for Blu-ray. If you really want to see a longer version, you can get the Italian DVD. However, this only has the Italian audio.

Picture comparison:

Italian DVD:

US Blu-ray:

Runtimes:

Italian DVD: 86:33 min.
US Blu-ray: 88:03 min.

Comparison between the US Blu-ray by Mondo Macabro and the Italian DVD by Cinekult.

[00:00:20][00:00:21]

Alternate title insert.

No time difference.


[00:06:33][00:06:50]

In the Italian version, David and the Devil can be seen as the Devil thanks David.

The US cuts to David briefly instead. (A shot from later was used here).

IT: 4 secs.
US: 2 secs.


[00:08:17][00:08:36]

The Devil and David are seen earlier before the latter taps him on the shoulder.

IT: 3 secs.


[00:34:22][00:35:45]

David sits on the stone longer. He looks to the side and sees Samantha.

IT: 4 secs.


[00:34:30][00:35:50]

Samantha is seen on the motorcycle longer. David looks down, then another cut to Samantha on the motorcycle.

IT: 7 secs.


[00:35:01][00:36:15]

Samantha runs longer through the woods. In the next shot, David is seen running through the woods earlier.

IT: 13 sec.


[00:35:16][00:36:16]

David runs longer through the woods. In the next shot, Samantha is seen earlier.

IT: 3 secs.


[00:35:21][00:36:19]

Samantha runs longer through the woods. In the next shot, David is seen earlier.

IT: 8 sec.


[00:36:25][00:37:18]

When David has taken off his shoe, it cuts to Samantha laughing. After that, David is seen continuing to undress.

IT: 6 secs.


[00:41:52][00:42:53]

David is seen longer in the bathtub. In the next shot, he is seen shaving earlier.

IT: 8 secs.


[00:47:44][00:48:52]

David is seen longer in front of the picture of Samantha.

He takes a look in her closet and then goes into the next room.

The Mondo Macabro BD kicks in as the camera pans across the dressing table.

IT: 20 secs.


[00:48:59][00:49:51]

David continues to look at clothes on Liv, then leaves.

IT: 21 secs.


[00:50:19][00:50:53]

David walks longer through the dark forest. He calls out to Liv. All at once, he hears the laughter of women without making out from which direction it comes.

IT: 38 sec.


[00:56:10][00:56:19]

Missing part in the Italian version: David is seen longer. In the next shot, we see Bibiana earlier.

US: 4 secs.


[01:00:46][01:01:11]

David can be seen in the rain for longer. More lightning strikes around him.

IT: 48 sec.


[01:02:18][01:01:57]

Bibiana can be seen earlier.

IT: 2 secs.


[01:26:33][01:27:16]

On the BD, the song continues at the end in black screen.

US: 47 sec.