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Meridian
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Dreadful: | 
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| | Cheesy electronic keyboard soundtrack |
Pleasure: | 
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| | Sherilyn Fenn in her prime |
Best with: |  |
| | Bramasole Italian Red |
Meridian (1988)
Released as "Phantoms" on DVD Internationally.
Filmed on location in Italy, Meridian is a somewhat modern (adult) version of Beauty and the Beast.
The opening act begins with a nighttime procession of circus performers emerging from the mouth of a crypt-like structure.
The next scene takes place the next day, at a nearby church. The priests have just acquired a painting from the 1500's that needs restoration - there is a hidden image underneath the top layer of pigment. Gina, the top restoration expert, is assigned the task.
We then meet Catherine Bomarzini (Sherilyn Fenn), the owner/heir of a large castle in the countryside. She has moved back into the castle from America. Gina meets here there, excited to be reunited with her old friend.
The two friends run across a circus sideshow near the castle grounds, and are mesmerized by the performances.
Gina stops backstage to thank the ringmaster, Fauvrey, for an excellent job. Catherine invites them to the castle for dinner and libations.
Dinner is served medieval-style, at a long wooden table with lots of drink and celebration. One of the circus performers drugs the wine, which Catherine and Gina consume.
We find that there are two "Fauvreys", Oliver and Lawrence. Oliver is cursed, he changes into an ape-like beast without warning.
Oliver and Lawrence have their way with the two women .. Oliver becomes the Beast while making love to Catherine.
"Perfect body, smooth, classy"
- Lawrence, upon seeing Catherine disrobe
The next day, both women awake with little memory of the previous night.
Gina continues to work on restoring the painting .. which eventually reveals the final act of the movie: The Beast, armed with a crossbow, is going to kill either Catherine or Lawrence.
The movie unfolds as we find that Oliver finds that the curse unbearable, and wants to die.
Catherine falls in love with Oliver - and will do anything to eliminate the curse.
Lawrence is fatally stabbed in the climax of the movie .. which ends just like is started, with the procession of circus performers.
The only difference: they are going back into the crypt, and Catherine is going with them.
Vendor recommendations:
This DVD is hard to find - we found it on ebay.
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