Red-Barracuda This spy film from prolific exploitation director Jess Franco is probably most notable for being the final film the gorgeous actress Soledad Miranda appeared in before her untimely and tragic death very soon afterwards. In this one she is a secret service agent who goes undercover as a go-go dancer in order to track down international criminals who stole a precious mineral that can turn base metals into gold and people into zombie-like creatures. It's a nonsense plot-line, although it's one of the more plot-driven films I have actually seen Franco attempt.Its strengths lie in other areas, most notably Miranda, who is easily the best thing about this. Like in all the Franco films she starred in, she once again displays an effortless magnetism and sensuality. The very fact that she operates partially as a stripper of course plays up the latter aspect quite a bit but like her other appearances in erotic roles, it always feels somewhat classy with Soledad. Aside from her there is a regular gaggle of stock Euro actors who will be very familiar to anyone who has seen other Franco films from the period. Also in common with those films is the soundtrack of glorious kitsch groovetastic sounds. So essentially seek this out if you either (a) appreciate this very particular brand of retro lounge music or (b) like Soledad Miranda (who wouldn't?) or (c) must see all things Franco (in which case you're probably insane but in a good way). It's not as good as other Franco/Miranda collaborations such as Vampyros Lesbos or She Killed in Ecstasy but it still has enough about it to make it an entertaining watch.

slayrrr666 "The Devil Came from Akasava" is a slower than typical Franco affair.**SPOILERS**Deep in a jungle in the country of Akasava, a mysterious death plagues the British government, and top agent Jane Morgan, (Soledad Miranda) is assigned to go undercover in the country with partner Rex Forrester, (Fred Williams) and find the cause of the disappearances. After looking at the possible angles, they find that the disappearances center around a special mineral that turns people into zombies. With an enemy group on their trail, they work together to solve the mystery of the mineral as well as the disappearances of the original deaths.The Good News: Being that this is a Franco film, there's always several things to immediately expect. The first is that the film will really not make sense, feature a nice, jazzy score and the underlying reason is the copious female nudity. Soledad Miranda here provides the bulk of that, and has never really shown such a presence before. She captivates with her several remarkable scenes and willingness to perform, and there's several wonderful scenes of her in here. The strip-club act is the clear highlight, which is as sultry and erotic as anything else in his catalog. It is shot and choreographed beautifully, and watching Soledad Miranda dance in a continuous series of stylized poses is never a bad thing. The fact that the plot includes such genre-defying topics as a spy story, an adventure setting, soft-core erotica and zombies makes this such a special film, and the cleverness of them being tied together makes it stand out quite nicely. Other than that, that's about it here.The Bad News: It goes without saying that in a Franco film, the constant zooming and jazz maybe for specific tastes, but the biggest flaw is that the film really takes it's time doing anything. The setup takes way to long to explain away, and after most of it was already told through the opening moments. The fact that a spy film would feature so little action is a big mystery, since it really could've done so easily. However, these are the main gripes here.The Final Verdict: A little slower moving than usual for a Franco film, this is still a rather kooky and entertaining entry in his canon. A really high recommendation for the Franco aficionado, while those not that experienced in his work might want to start elsewhere, as there's better ones out there.Rated NR/NC-17: Full Nudity, Violence and some Language

unbrokenmetal "Der Teufel kam aus Akasava" was released after the untimely demise of its star Soledad Miranda. First off: she has made better movies, especially "Vampyros Lesbos" and "She Killed In Ecstasy"! "Der Teufel kam aus Akasava" suffers from the confusing screenplay (said to be based on an Edgar Wallace short story). The MacGuffin for the fight between several parties is a kind of radioactive "energy stone" everyone wants to get hold of. Soledad plays a secret agent in the disguise of a nightclub dancer. Don't ask why she starts her investigation that way. Trusted, experienced actors from the Edgar Wallace series like Siegfried Schürenberg and Horst Tappert are a bit lost here, but (surely not only to me) Soledad Miranda is worth every penny one might spend on the DVD. She performs a dance in the nightclub which is a wonderful demonstration of her beauty, her screen presence and her elegance. Expect nothing more, expect nothing less.

matalo If you´re an admirer of Jess Franco and the unforgettable Soledad Miranda, who died shortly after the production of this film, which has been produced back to back with Vampyros Lesbos and Sie tötete in Ekstase, in which she starred also, this one´s definitely a must-see. Everything in this movie is adorable (besides gorgeous Soledad, who is credited as Susann Korda): the plot (hilarious secret agent/conspiracy stuff), the actors (watch out for Horst Tappert), the production values (you might remember from Vampyros Lesbos) and, of course, the unbelievable groovy 70s soundtrack. It´s got everything you wish from a typical Jess Franco movie. And if you haven´t seen one yet, this is a good one to begin with.