Emmanuelle Arsan’s erotic tale of Italian journalist, Emmenuelle, lives on in the sexy thriller, Emanuelle’s Revenge (Do Ut Des). Our tale opens with a traumatized model, Francesca (Ilaria Loriga), wandering the streets of Millan just before jumping off a bridge.
Flashback a couple of hours, Francesca is the talk of the town as one of its top fashion models. The beautiful Francesca catches the eye of the handsome and very wealthy Leonardo (Gianni Rosato), who attempts to entice her to his bedroom. Francesca plays hard to get as she has been burned and abused by men in her past. Leonardo assures her that he’s not like the others and invites her to a party he’s throwing, where the two finally make a connection…in Leonardo’s bedroom.
A year later, Leonardo continues to expand his business around the world with the help of his daughter Giulia (Miriam Dossena) and business partner, Michael (Luca Avallone). While in Budapest, Leonardo crosses paths with author/journalist Emanuelle (Beatrice Schiaffino). Like Francesca, Leonardo pursues the beautiful Emanuelle, hoping to claim her as his own. Emanuelle also plays hard to get but ultimately relents and invites Leonardo to her residence.
“…catches the eye of the handsome and very wealthy Leonardo, who attempts to entice her to his bedroom.”
Proficient in the sexual art of bondage, Emanuelle ties up and very h***y Leonardo in her soundproof “playroom.” Leonardo is treated to a hot and heavy encounter with Emanuelle and her girlfriend. Turned on by “show,” Emanuelle turns on Leonardo for, as the title states, “Emanuelle’s Revenge.”
In all honesty, I’ve heard of the Emanuelle series, but I’ve never watched any of the previous films. The story is pretty straightforward in Emanuelle’s Revenge. Leonardo is a Harvey Weinstein-type, but we never see it in the film’s first half. The story portrays him as a powerful man who respects the wishes and timing of the women he pursues…with a bit of masculine aggression.
On the other hand, Emanuelle is a beautiful and cunning woman who uses her feminine wiles and super-hot body to lure and sexually torture her prey…Leonardo. She’s not exactly a girl boss, but she has an elaborate plan for her victim’s demise. Leonardo plays the male stereotype, yet I like how his true nature unfolds over time like layers of an onion. Emanuelle’s revenge is brutal…with a feminine touch.
Of course, the Emanuelle series would be nothing without sex. Yes, the series still follows the sexual exploitation model (i.e., ample amounts of nudity). Each encounter starts with a bit of teasing as a means of cinematic foreplay before delivering some hot-and-heavy action. Emanuelle’s Revenge does not disappoint. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in my humble opinion, the main actresses are beauties to behold in how they continue the traditions of Emanuelle.
No one is winning any Oscars here, but Emanuelle’s Revenge puts a sexy #MeToo twist on the erotic thriller. Somehow, that feels contradictory to me.
For more information about Emanuelle’s Revenge, visit the Cinephobia Releasing website.
"…puts a sexy #MeToo twist on the erotic thriller."
