Verdict
Summary
More “fun” than its predecessor Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS, Ilsa: Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks is more of a reboot or reimagining of the first film (because Ilsa dies at the end of that), and it’s less grotesque and vile and much more of a sexcapade adventure with a new set of characters. Kino Lorber’s new 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray edition of Ilsa: Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks is offered in a vivid upgrade from the previous DVD from Anchor Bay (which is still in my collection in a box set), and the picture and sound quality are strong and impressive.
Plot:
A harem lorded over by an oil sheik named El Sharif (Jerry Delony) is a hub of activity for dignitaries and millionaires, itching to throw their money around for El Sharif’s revolving door of gorgeous captive women from around the world. In charge of his harem and estate is the blonde Amazon Ilsa (Dyanne Thorne), who has a particular cruel streak and who takes pleasure in humiliating other women – and men – whom she deems inferior to her (which is basically everyone), but she respects her employer El Sharif because he has power, and that is one thing she wants more of. When Ilsa is tasked with procuring three top-of-the-line female specimens for induction into El Sharif’s harem, she orchestrates a sex trafficking coup that lands her three voluptuous and flawless women (who include the barrel-breasted Uschi Digard and the redheaded beauty Colleen Brennan) from the USA, Europe, and Asia. She outfits each captive with a chastity belt, and presents El Sharif with her captives, and he’s overjoyed at her picks. Meanwhile, Ilsa has perfected a new torture device (a robotic dildo that has degrees of intensity that can penetrate all the way through), and she delights in testing it out on an unwilling test subject. When El Sharif entertains US dignitaries – including a Naval officer – the visit turns deadly when the officer dares fall into love with the diabolical but beautiful Ilsa, who realizes that their visit isn’t a social one, but a mission to destroy El Sharif!
More “fun” than its predecessor Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS, Ilsa: Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks is more of a reboot or reimagining of the first film (because Ilsa dies at the end of that), and it’s less grotesque and vile and much more of a sexcapade adventure with a new set of characters, despite sharing a slew of the same cast members from before, including George “Buck” Flower as a hunchback who gets to have his way with Ilsa when she breaks the sheik’s rules. This resembles a pulpy and naughty men’s adventure novel with hardcore / softcore tendencies, and if you’re in the mood for it, it’s pretty entertaining, if basically pointless. Its purpose is to raise some eyebrows, and it does indeed do that … more than once. Don Edmonds returned to direct this one.
Kino Lorber’s new 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray edition of Ilsa: Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks is offered in a vivid upgrade from the previous DVD from Anchor Bay (which is still in my collection in a box set), and the picture and sound quality are strong and impressive. The two-disc set comes with archival bonus features, including a commentary by Thorne and Edmonds, plus a new one with two film historians, archival interviews, a stills gallery, a trailer, a slipcover, and a reversible sleeve.
