BABA YAGA (aka BABA YAGA DEVIL WITCH, KISS ME KILL ME, BLACK MAGIC, 1973)

Streaming as KISS ME KILL ME on Tubi!
Directed by Corrado Farina
Written by Corrado Farina, François de Lannurien (from the comics of Guido Crepax)

Starring Carroll Baker, Isabelle De Funès, George Eastman, Ely Galleani, Daniela Balzaretti, Mario Mattia Giorgetti

Filling the quota for lesbian horror this week is BABA YAGA, a somewhat non-PC horror film that casts the villain as an older temptress (played by Carroll Baker) who sets her sights on a doe-eyed photographer (Isabelle De Funès). Adapted from a French erotic comic book by the same name, BABA YAGA refers to the witch of ancient fable, but instead of stirring a cauldron and riding a broom, this witch frequents art galleries and flirts with the upper crust.

Though sensuality is at the forefront of BABA YAGA, the film is rather tame compared to today’s standards of smut. Baba Yaga (Baker) appears in Valentina’s (De Funes) life just as she is becoming popular in her photography. She is seen spurning the advances of Aldo (George Eastman) in the opening moments, leading to a traumatic encounter with Yaga when she barely avoids being run down in the street. Things turn erotic quickly as Yaga steals Valentina’s garter belt clip and starts showing up in her dreams. Soon, Valentina finds herself caught up in a downward spiral of eroticism mixed with perversions such as dolls in bondage and Nazi S&M.

Ultimately, the non-PC aspect of the film rears its head by casting the lesbian as a force threatening Valentina’s heterosexual lifestyle. But have no fear, that pesky lesbian witch is defeated when Aldo shows up to save the day and sweep Valentina up into heterosexual Nirvana.

Entertaining mainly due to the surreal dreams Valentina experiences throughout and the fantastic cinematography incorporating still images from the comic, BABA YAGA serves both as an ahead of its time player visually and a comment on the state of tolerance in the era it was made.

Check out the trailer here!!