The Lickerish Quartet
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Director: Radley Metzger
Actors: Silvana Venturelli, Frank Wolff, Erika Remberg
PlotA wealthy European family comprising a couple and their grown son spend their days in an opulent castle, seeking to escape the ennui of their privileged existence. They indulge in the consumption of various forms of sophisticated erotica, trying to recapture a sense of excitement and arousal that their mundane aristocratic life lacks. One evening, the trio stumbles upon a carnival and while there, they watch a stag film that captivates their attention. Strikingly, they notice that one of the actresses in the erotic film bears an uncanny resemblance to a young woman currently performing her motorcycle stunt show at the carnival.
Intrigued by the resemblance, the family invites the woman back to their castle, proposing an experiment to test the boundaries of reality versus the filmed fantasy they have observed. As the night progresses, the visitor engages with each family member, blurring the lines between her identity as the mysterious motorcycle stuntwoman and the erotic performer from the film. The family's voyeuristic tendencies are piqued as they project their desires onto her, leading to a series of seductive games and interactions that gradually strip away their veneers of sophistication and control. The dynamics amongst the foursome evolves into a complex web of sexual tension, psychological manipulation, and a search for authenticity within their performances of self.
Writers: Michael DeForrest, Radley Metzger
Release Date: 13 Oct 1970
Runtime: 90 min
Rating: R
Country: Italy, West Germany
Language: English
Home Video Reviews
Blu-ray of 'The Lickerish Quartet' divides opinion; some praise, others question its value in classic erotic cinema.
Read our review of The Lickerish Quartet Blu-ray to find out more