Why this isn’t widely considered one of the greatest World War II films ever produced, alongside Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, The Pianist, and Das Boot, I’ll never know. I mean, in terms of historical war cinema, this really is as good as it gets. Okay, okay, I’m joking. If you’re a WW2 buff like me, don’t expect to satiate your craving for a good movie on the war by watching this. Although, it is better than Dunkirk and that new version of Midway.
Ilsa She Wolf of the SS is, however, probably on the Mount Rushmore of exploitation films, in my view. Not because its a particularly good film; don’t get me wrong. The acting, cinematography, and music are all horrible. (The music is so bad that its distracting–the repetitive beating of a snare drum every time someone is walking, ugh!) But Ilsa has several staples of exploitation: Nazis, women behind bars, torture, gore, sex, and bare breasts everywhere. And, of course, it’s starring the legend of grindhouse cinema Dyanne Thorne.
Perhaps only Pam Grier is more legendary in the world of exploitation. Ilsa She Wolf of the SS is really the film that set Thorne on that course. After Ilsa, she made a string of movies over the next several years that were basically copies of this one, including two more Ilsa films.
The torture scenes are okay. The plot leaves a bit to be desired. But Dyanne Thorne’s breasts are epic.
Give it watch for free on Vimeo.