Malibu High

This poster is a lie.

Continuing with the series of "movies that deserved a worthy review" we continue with one of my wife's personal favorites: Malibu High, a 1970 sexploitation tale that digs deep into a teen tramp desperate race for satisfying her darkest cravings. Directed by Irvin Berwick and written by John Buckley & Tom Singer, Malibu High AKA Death in Denim is probably one of the most interesting displays of how nasty the exploitation genre could get. Starred by Jill Lansing, this flick is about a high school senior tramp that is dumped by her boyfriend, making her grades fall drastically... so to avoid failing, she begins seducing her male teachers. Thus begins her downward spiral into drug addiction and prostitution, and ultimately assassinations for a kingpin mob boss, yes, my kind of movie. 

Kim Bentley, student, hooker & hitgirl.

The movie essentially deals with the adolescent need to fit in, only this time the "need" is more like a desperate obsessive craving. As I stated yesterday for the "Cindy & Donna" review, exploitation films do have a say about important issues sometimes. The problem is the film makers fail to let you understand their films actually had an interesting aproach about everyday life issues. I don't blame them though, cause in the sleazy 70's if you wanted to make it big (or at least trying to make it big) you were urged to use nudity, sex, clichéd topics and worst of all, urge to film with limited budgets, which eventually didn't allow producers to hire talented actors & actresses (no, they couldn't afford renowned names) So, the "need to fit in" I was talking about is transformed into the worst kind of craving you can think of. Jill Lansing leads playing Kim Bentley, a wicked teen whose hunger for success becomes her doom.

Put a dodge in your garage.

 So, what is Malibu High about?

An 18 year old with a rotten attitude and bad grades decides to use her body as a means to gain money and graduate from school..soon becoming a prostitute and hitwoman in the process! The shocking subject matter grows from sleazy to violent and the protagonist has a really lousy personality, quite a polarizing character that gets exactly what she deserves. She often makes decisions on a whim, without much thought of future potential consequences. Selfish, always focused on what she desires, not considering those damaged by her actions.

Let me swallow that cum for you dear teacher.

The film is far more serious than what you can actually think of about an exploitation flick, with a rather sordid atmosphere and unpleasant characters.. perfect 70's Drive-in fare certain to appeal to trash lovers everywhere. Lots of rather icky sex sequences where Kim rolls around with hairy old men, such as teachers she wished to score A's from in class(..like the history and physics teachers)and an unscrupulous mobster who uses her to bump off undesirables that affect those that he has relationships with. Jill Lansing as Kim, the lead character, sinks her fangs into the role..with quite a loud, confrontational voice, holding nothing back, Kim becomes impossible to handle, an independently thinking woman willing to commit unspeakable acts for her lover/employer.

Yes, I'm a hooker because fuck you!

There are priceless (..incredibly tasteless, I could do nothing but stare in awe at the boldness of the filmmakers) scenes in this movie such as Kim's work with various "hard-hat" types for sweaty, greasy pimp Tony (Alex Mann, the kind of sleazeball most teenage girls run away from) in his van (..nothing hardcore, but the idea itself is disturbing) before "graduating" to higher clientèle once she begins prostituting for Lance (Garth Howard). The assassinations themselves left me awestruck.. when you take into effect that she was sitting in a classroom wondering how to survive during her current situation(..to be honest, a lot of what happens to Kim is of her own doing, even if tragedy struck her earlier in life regarding the suicide of pops and mother's overbearing ways, not to mention the boyfriend left for a rich daddy's girl), and about thirty minutes later she's killing people assigned to her. And, that climax is something to behold, rather grim and depressing if you truly contemplate what brought Kim to this point, with credits rolling unapologetically. 

I give a blowjob and then I kill you.

The production values and technical proficiency are rather sub-par (..this is a low budget exploitation feature, after all)..to be honest, when I choose to watch a film like Malibu High I often expect to see "deficiencies" in all areas, because these movies were made(..and acted) primarily by amateurs you never see or hear from again. This film has a malicious tone I wasn't expecting..I wasn't for sure how it would develop but the idea of this girl, buried in a type of an emotional malaise, evolving from a tramp providing sexual favors for teachers to popping bullets into victims certainly surprised me. How malignant Kim becomes is another startling aspect with her going as far as causing her principal to suffer a heart attack by hiding his pills just because he was a threat towards her possible graduation! The dress for these characters should induce chuckles reminding us of the hideous seventies' fashions (..and the discoteque scene reminds us of the ghastly music as well). Lansing bares her breasts throughout the movie very seldom hiding them under her shirts. Lansing's not the kind of girl I'd go for (..and as a "goddess of desire" she doesn't quite fit the bill, in my opinion), but it's a spirited, daring performance. Blunt, often foul-mouthed, and unpredictable script. 

You know Principal, you kind of turn me on.

Is Malibu High worth the try?

Yes, yes it is. So much have been discussed around the internet world about the actual value of the exploitation films that I just don't want to repeat hundreds of theories that basically state the exploitation genre lacks originality, both directing & acting talent and frantically abuse of women exposing them to excessive nudity & sex, and bla bla bla.

Get up you lazy bitch, it's time to get your face covered in cum for some cash.

Good stuff about Malibu High

Jill Lansing convingcingly performs the lead role of Kim Bentley, and that is not because she's a top of the line actress, but because she physically portrays the character looks: Unattractive, dirty, looking cheap and dressing up like a street hooker. 

I'll suck your dick dry if you promise me an A.

The plot is not the most original of all times but it does keep you entertained from start to finish. I mean, the idea of turning a regular high school student into a mean hooker and eventually a hitgirl  does seem appealing at times.

Bad Stuff about Malibu High

The supporting cast is terrible. None of them can render a fair performance for each of their assigned roles.

The sex scenes are awful. Knowing the main actress is alredy a let down, and seeing her "perform" with old fats at odd places, like a very uncomfy van don't help improve things by a longshot.

This skinny bitch is Kim's ultimate inspiration.

There's a lot of silly dialogues that start nowhere and end nowhere. Now why is that? 

The origin of the whole story is ridiculous! how can Kim become a hooker, fuck teachers and kill people just because she is jealous of her ex boyfriend's new girl!

I rule.

Anyways, here's the full movie for your guilty exploitation pleasure: