The College Girl Murders (1967)

"The Monk with the Whip" has at least a few ridiculous motifs to distinguish itself from the average krimi film:1. People are killed with books that contain a small electronic device that sprays poison mist at whoever opens them; 2. The killer, the "monk" of the title, wears what looks like KKK regalia dyed red; 3. At the all-girl boarding school some of the movie is set at, the swimming pool has an underwater window that looks into the headmaster's office, so he can observe the students swimming; 4. A bumbling detective who attempts perhaps the most inept interrogation of a suspect ever committed to film.Aside from that, it's pretty standard late-krimi fare. Boring, hard to understand, and you can't even tell who the hero is supposed to be... or the protagonist.

"Der Mönch mit der Peitsche" is another German movie made in the late 1960s that was based on the crime novels of author Edgar Wallace. these were fairly famous back then. The director is Alfred Vohrer who made several of these and the cast also includes a couple familiar names. Uschi Glas and Joachim Fuchsberger for example showed up in several of these Edgar Wallace films, especially Fuchsberger. And bother are also actors that are still very well-known in Germany today. Also Grit Boettcher may still be a name to some. The title here says already who this film is about, as usual they included the main antagonist and this time it is a murderous monk with a whip. I must say that he did look pretty ridiculous when we saw him and I cannot say I was scared, but this is nothing new for these German Wallace movies as they usual includes a handful of comedy, sometimes more obvious, sometimes more subtle. Unfortunately the story here is not really that good. There were okay moments, but there were also some pretty weak moments that did not make sense in the grand scheme of things, such as the detective dressing up as the evil monk himself to provoke him with no references if he was even near or why he would care. Yeah, overall I am glad this was fairly short. These films rarely make it to the 90-minute mark, some even stay under 85. I give this one here a thumbs down. Not recommended.

There's a lot going on in The College Girl Murders. A mad scientist creates an almost undetectable poisonous gas. Before he can reap the rewards of his discovery, the scientist is killed by a hooded, whip-welding monk. After a co-ed is killed in a church by the gas, Scotland Yard is called in to investigate, but the killing continues. Who can stop this mad killer who seems to be able to come and go as he pleases in and out of the college? What Works: The Killer. What's not to like about a killer who sneaks around wearing a vivid red KKK looking outfit, complete with red gloves. The white whip he carries and uses very effectively stands out nicely against the bright red gown. Although the idea of a killer in a flaming red, pointy-head outfit sneaking around a girl's school is fairly far-fetched, it's one of the more sinister looking costumes I've seen.Groovy 60s Music. I really would like to track down the title music to The College Girl Murders. It's got a jazzy, hip, 60s feel to it that I just loved.Bizarre Touches. Beyond the killer's red gown and hood, the movie features a sliding fireplace, a pit of alligators with a cage handing overhead, poison spraying bibles, a strategically placed mannequin, mini-skirts, go-go boots, and mile high hair. I would describe it as a cross between the 60s Batman TV show and an Italian giallo. The College Girl Murders is a real treat for the eye.The End. Let's just say that there are more twists than a mountain road. Just when you think the killer has been uncovered, here comes a twist…..and another….and another…and another.What Doesn't Work: Chief Inspector Sir John. I know the guy was meant to be comic relief, but his buffoonish character has way too much screen time.Why Have Alligators? Previously, I mentioned the alligators in the pit. And while they are a nice touch, they serve very little purpose. Why go through all the trouble and not use them? Plodding Plot. Some of The College Girl Murders has no flow or rhythm to it. There are far too many moments throughout the movie when things come inexplicably to a screeching halt. Better pacing would have made this a much more enjoyable movie.I haven't seen many of these German krimis but of the few I have seen (Phantom of Soho, Strangler of Blackmoor Castle, Dead Eyes of London) this may be my favorite. This one has a real funky feel to it that I really go into. Had the plot flowed a little better, I could have easily given The College Girl Murders a 7/10.

The best way I can think to describe this movie is: suppose a group of German film makers snuck onto the deserted set of a Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode and made a movie there.The only thing this movie has going for it is the sets. A fireplace where the mantle in front rises up to reveal a hidden doorway, a villain's lair with giant water tank holding large turtles, alligators (or maybe crocodiles) snapping at and eating anything tossed to them and a swimming pool with below surface level viewing windows.Maybe this thing made sense in it's original language.