Private House Of The SS

Private House of the SS is a controversial and subversive entry into the notorious Nazi exploitation film genre, directed by Bruno Mattei and starring Gabriele Carrara, Marina Daunia, along with Macha Magall. Originally released in 1977, this Italian-made wartime themed survival film combines the gritty elements of exploitation cinema with the political tension of World War II.

The film presents an arguably controversial perspective on the stories of women who were ensnared within the web of the Nazi regime. It's an enthralling depiction of their rise to power and their hidden world of debauchery and brutality. Straddling on the edges of historical horror, Private House of the SS is not for the faint-hearted as it portrays the narratives of brutality and inhumanity pervading these times.

The film centers around Lieutenant Susan, a fervent Nazi officer, portrayed by Macha Magall. She runs a notorious brothel, the Private House of the SS, where high-ranking officers of the Third Reich relax and rejuvenate. Susan’s residence is not your quintessential house of pleasure, as it also serves as a battleground for a malicious and twisted game of survival. The seemingly ordinary women plucked from the concentration camps seeking refuge are compelled to partake in these lewd activities fraught with treachery and debauchery and often incentivized by the conceited promise of freedom.

These manipulation schemes serve as the conduit for the film’s narrative. Gabriele Carrara, essaying the role of the sadistic Commandant Hans Schellenberg, underlines the immoral and intolerant attitudes prevalent during the epoch, catalyzing the progression of terror and dread.

Meanwhile, Marina Daunia's character Lisa, a newly introduced inhabitant, becomes the beacon of resilience and rebellion. As a character, Lisa captures the audience's attention with her fierce tenacity and determination to survive, forming a perfect counterpoint to Schellenberg and Susan's villainous characters.

Private House of the SS masquerades as a war film with historical underpinnings, but it does not shy away from exhibitionism, nudity, violence, and sadomasochism common to exploitation cinema. However, Bruno Mattei's direction ensures that these elements do not seem gratuitous or distasteful but contribute to an understanding of the terrorizing sense of peril these women had to endure every day.

On a technical level, the film impresses with its cinematography, effectively capturing the essence of the era with a keen eye for details. The production standards are high for a low-budget exploitation film, with the sets and costumes accurately depicting the World War II era. The performances by the lead actors are enthusiastically unapologetic, further enhancing the credibility of the menace of the SS officers.

The score made up of militaristic themes and intense undertones adds another layer of dread to the overall narrative. Throughout the film, the ambiance of the score sustains the viewer’s dread and further amplifies the tension of the on-screen spectacle.

Private House of the SS, with its focus on survival, brutality, and rebellion, adds a dramatic facet to the era's historical narrative that has been explored far less. This film does not exalt in its depictions of violence and coercion. Instead, it pries them open, presenting them as markers of a particularly horrifying chapter in our shared history. It focuses on those who are often forgotten in the grander narratives of war and terror.

However, viewer discretion is advised considering its explicit content and the brutal depictions of coercion and violence. It is certainly not a film that everyone can enjoy, and it will likely appeal to a more niche audience with a taste for historical horror, exploitation cinema, and controversial storytelling.