Ilsa - She Wolf of the SS (1974)

30% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(3,546 ratings)

One of the most infamous examples of the 1970s glut of sexy-Nazi movies is this gory, sleazy wallow in nauseating excess from director Don Edmonds. Busty Las Vegas showgirl Dyanne Thorne made her cult reputation in the title role as Ilsa, the sadistically depraved directress of Medical Camp 9. It is… More One of the most infamous examples of the 1970s glut of sexy-Nazi movies is this gory, sleazy wallow in nauseating excess from director Don Edmonds. Busty Las Vegas showgirl Dyanne Thorne made her cult reputation in the title role as Ilsa, the sadistically depraved directress of Medical Camp 9. It is a memorable performance and was so popular that Thorne was resurrected in similar roles on three subsequent occasions. Despite its controversial themes, Ilsa, She-Wolf of the S.S. is much less of a death-camp movie than a mixture of women's prison thriller and escape film. No mention is ever made of gas chambers or crematoria and most of the portrayals of Nazi men seem to come straight from Hogan's Heroes (this film was made on the sets of that series). In this light, Edmonds' hybrid of gore, sex, and action is far less offensive than it might have been, and Thorne's over-the-top villainess actually makes it somewhat endearing. Although this film isn't the best in the series, and is not for the faint of heart, it has much to recommend it for genre devotees. The makeup effects by Joe Blasco are quite realistic for the time, Thorne's performance is impressively evil, and Richard Kennedy is a hoot as the jovial, piggish General. Jonah Royston's screenplay certainly doesn't skimp on exploitation elements, but it also has enough clever plot touches to satisfy those looking for a real story in between the carnality and carnage. Cult starlets Sharon Kelly and Uschi Digart also appear. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 45 min.
Directed By: Don Edmonds
Written By: Jonah Royston
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1974 Wide

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Self-conscious Canadian-made camp of the bondage-and-discipline variety.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Exploitation movies don't get better than this.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
More porn than actual adventure flick, this is worth the watch, regardless. If only, to see the electrified vibrator...
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Thorne is undeniably hot, but too much of this is simply distasteful and highly unpleasant.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Despite a lot of competition, this is perhaps the most poisonous thing passing itself off as a movie that I've ever seen.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Unlike the worst of this wretched genre, at least the filmmakers don't seem to be enjoying their work--it's simply exploitation for money. That's hardly reason, however, for anyone but students of deviant psychology to view this.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Por um lado, é um daqueles filmes tão ruins que acabam divertindo. Por outro, não há como negar que, ao utilizar o Holocausto como base para uma narrativa de S(S)exploitation e gore, revela-se moralmente repulsivo.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
The film works better as horror rather than sexploitation. If the blood-covered girls screaming don't do it, Thorne's chiseled face will.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Emily A

I can't believe this is a real movie! What it lacks in plot in more than makes up for in boobs. Seriously, there' nudity in almost every scene. All the prisoners are naked, and apparently female Nazi officers liked to do thier torturing shirtless. It's only practical.… More
I can't believe this is a real movie! What it lacks in plot in more than makes up for in boobs. Seriously, there' nudity in almost every scene. All the prisoners are naked, and apparently female Nazi officers liked to do thier torturing shirtless. It's only practical. It's really quite astounding just how schlocky this movie is. The blood and gore is excessive, yet not for a minute believable. The torture is too over-the-top to be offensive. Isla is the most cartoonish villain I've ever seen this side of a Disney movie. In fact, she reminds me of a naked, nymphomaniacal mashup between Ursula the Sea-Witch, Jafar and, I don't know, Frollo, maybe? If you get offended by this movie, you've probably missed the point. It exists only to amuse you with its silliness. Either you're in or you're out. I for one, am in.
Wahida K

Even the SS feared her?
Stephen M

This exploitative piece of garbage is cheeky enough to carry a message from the producer purporting it to be some sort of serious study of Nazi prison camp atrocities! Yeah, right! The only good things I can find to say about it are that it's less sloppily put together than the… More
This exploitative piece of garbage is cheeky enough to carry a message from the producer purporting it to be some sort of serious study of Nazi prison camp atrocities! Yeah, right! The only good things I can find to say about it are that it's less sloppily put together than the equivalent Italian-made dross, and some of the gore effects are competently done. The first of the four 'Ilsa' movies, this was rejected in '75 and '76 by the British Board of Film Classification, and it probably still wouldn't pass uncut today. You might spot Russ Meyer regular Uschi Digard briefly testing a recompression chamber.
Michael G

A horrible film that professes sleaze and unintentional laughs. So yeah, it's pretty cool even if it's not very good.
Alex M

This movie starts out with a disclaimer where the director pretends to give a shit about people who died in the Holocaust, and then goes into a delightful romp of campdom. This really is one of those terrible movies you just have to enjoy. The story flows awfully, but every scene is… More
This movie starts out with a disclaimer where the director pretends to give a shit about people who died in the Holocaust, and then goes into a delightful romp of campdom. This really is one of those terrible movies you just have to enjoy. The story flows awfully, but every scene is still interesting enough to have held my attention, and the acting provides lots of unintentional comedy. Ilsa actually comes off as a very sympathetic character at times, which either says something about the layers of this film or my own sociopathy. Either way, this is worth a watch. Any movie that's hailed as the best in Nazi exploitation deserves a chance.
Steve S

Oh brother. This was recommended to me by another Flixster weirdo. God bless her. Now that movie standards are more lax, time for a remake -with less clothes and more lesbian vampirism.