The Last Step Down / Blood Lust (DVD)

The recent revival of interest in 1970s grindhouse cinema has unearthed some bizarre and seedy films, but none are as shamelessly exploitive as these two entries in the softcore horror genre. THE LAST STEP DOWN observes the initiation of several voluptuous young women into a satanic cult. With its zoned-out actors and lethargic plot, THE LAST STEP DOWN is a cynical reaction to the counter-cultural fascination with the occult in the early '70s, reducing the worship of the Prince of Darkness to a prolonged humping-and-groping session. Also included is Russell Gay'a ultra-rare BLOOD LUST, an especially salacious (and unexpectedly stylized) adaptation.