Review – The Night Porter

Though a bit dated and more than a bit heavy-handed, overall this is an interesting import exploring the relationship between sex and fascism. An ex-Nazi working as a night porter in a hotel is surprised to find out that one of the hotel’s guests is a former inmate at the concentration camp where he worked. Further, he had a kinky sexual relationship with her, a relationship they resume after some initial awkwardness. But all is not well in sadomasochistic paradise; our protagonist is also on the verge of being cleared by the courts, officially declared a non-Nazi. His old SS buddies want this to happen, and they’re willing to kill any and all potential witnesses who might make things go awry. Unfortunately that sets them about the task of eliminating his sex partner. As art flicks about obsessive attraction go, I’ve seen a lot worse. However, the story gets stale awhile before the director runs out of film, and the graphic sex and violence don’t quite manage to prop it up. Mildly amusing