Huntress: Spirit of the Night (1995)

Tara(Jenna Bodnar)returns to Breckin, Northern Wales where she was born to attend her father's funeral. She was sent to America, because of her father's fear that a savage beast plaguing the surroundings of the area would harm her. Actually, thanks to a diary containing her father's recorded thoughts and newspaper clippings with photographs, given to her by butler Geoffrey(Constantin Cotimanis), Tara discovers that a panther was behind a mass of slayings, shot by a Breckin citizen, with it's owner, a witch, cursing the female populace to carry the spirit of her beloved animal. Tara finds a young naked female being hunted by a village mob looking for a beast prowling the area killing citizens again, on her father's estate, and watches as the spirit leaves her body looking for a new host to rest..in Tara does it find such rest. While actually being sexually repressed, Tara finds this primal spirit providing an extra motivation to embrace her carnal desires. Meanwhile, childhood friend, Michelle(Blair Valk)and crush, Alek(David Starzyk)wish to purchase Tara's father's estate. Michelle has a specific reason why she wishes to get her hands on the estate, having seduced Alek into finding investors interested in forking over the appropriate funds to do so. But, as Tara becomes accustomed to her surroundings, the atmosphere of it all enveloping her, she may wish to stay, even against the urgings of Geoffrey, worried about her well-being, and local antique-dealer, Ty Bodi(Charles Cooper), a friend of her father's, who believes in the legend of the panther spirit, warning her of it's evil. Through Ty does Tara realize that the beast killed her mother. Also, Tara meets a photographer, Jacob(Michael Wiseman)who she falls for. He's in the area capturing wild life for a magazine, a cavern his temporary refuge and studio. She willingly accepts an offer to pose for him and does so provocatively, letting go of her inhibitions, the animal inside unleashing her from the cage holding her true self at bay. If Tara doesn't sell the estate, Michelle will try more lethal methods..As a few others have already mentioned in the user comments section, I felt this is a loose variation on "Cat People". The ravishing Jenna Bodnar has enough acting skill to tackle the role of an *outsider* transitioning to the new environs where folklore and superstition still remain in the hearts of many. I think, however, this works best as a piece of erotica because Bodnar has such a magnificent body, her figure so well-defined, and director Mark S Manos has the knack for arranging several set-pieces to showcase her "talents." My favorite, besides the terrific cavernous photo session where lightning, rain, and a campfire enhance her naked flesh being bathed with water as it falls, is the first true night where Tara is caught up in a wave of lustful abandon, the animal inside emerging as she takes to a group of steps(..nice prop provided by the director so that Bodnar could work over it, her body barely confined within the silk robe, only a strap containing it)set up in a room overlooking the wilderness, a lantern swaying to and fro. The director's camera covers every inch of Bodnar's body, up and down every curve. Carefully edited are the sex scenes. I think the director wishes for you to salivate over Bodnar, the story is of little consequence next to her "sexual awakening" as the spirit takes hold, ever so pushing her to embrace the dark side, chambered for so long. As a horror film, it isn't successful. I think the film uses the sexuality of "Cat People", while neglecting the violence that derives from being consumed with the aggressive tendencies of the panther to hunt for food. It is mentioned in the film, through newspaper articles of recent attacks and the ever so glum Ty Bodi condemning Tara to leave at once. I cared little about the angle with Michelle and Alek..although, Valk is incredibly sexy and has a very memorable disrobing before crawling on all fours on top of a piano. Unfortunately, though, her threesome with Tara and Alek is uninspired which is a shame since all are attractive. See it for Bodnar, she doesn't disappoint. She even turned me on moving her tongue down a butcher knife in a fantasy sequence. Executively produced by Charles Band(..my DVD carries his Full Moon label)and filmed on stunning, richly lush Romanian locations..there's an enchanting nature this location gives off that seems just right for an erotic fantasy.

Quite similar to some of the more horror based Full Moon pictures, this is quite atmospheric and focuses on Tara vising North Wales for her father's funeral and being overwhelmed by a strange sexual awakening (even stuffed animal heads seem to get her excited). Big City Releasing (Independent distribution comapny) are main producers here but Full Moon's scent is rife (the story was originally planned for a 1980's Empire release). Beautifully filmed, humorously acted. Soft core actress Jenna Bodner makes her debut as Tara and is watchable but relatively plain looking. Great music from Fuzzbee Morse (Full Moon composer of Dolls and Dark Angel amongst others). Director Manos did a few jobs at Full Moon (including editing on Dark Angel and directing Josh Kirby 4) and did a few years at Playboy editing their 'documentaries'. This film is slow paced - the sex scenes are okay but merely add to the length of the film. Odd mixture of fascinating old fashioned horror and sex flick, this is always entertaining but never as good as it could be. The ending is ridiculously abrupt, think short tapes were got as a 'job lot'. Fine.

The story is essentially a mystery of both the occult and human nature. A serious minded young woman, Tara, returns to the exotic world of her early childhood and makes new acquaintances. Sexual encounters awaken her inner passions, and she soon exhibits a newly discovered physical prowess.Jenna Bodnar, as Tara, is fairly attractive. The few erotic scenes and moderate violence add needed excitement, but they are not done to excess. Suspense and intrigue are the main appeals of the film. The setting is dark and foreboding, and the main plot develops slowly.Tara inherits a wealthy estate from her distant estranged father. Inexplicably, just before his death he insisted that she stay away from the place. Tara's life is in danger and someone is trying to take advantage of her. Local folks repeatedly warn Tara, but they hesitate to tell her what they know. Even her new found mysterious lover, who seems to understand her true nature, offers little help. So, Tara is left practically all alone to ponder her mysterious circumstances. Naive, she is easily exploited, and she suffers a sinister fate.The movie's main disappointment is the fact that it ends with the story unfinished. Tara slowly transforms into something frightening, but we never get to see what she becomes. I don't know if there is any sequel, in which case I am not sure the movie is worth the effort.

This is another so-called horror flick,which is more soft-core sex than actually horror.Apart from some nicely filmed sex scenes and atmospheric sets there's nothing worth any recommendation here:no suspense,no gore&violence.The lead actress Jenna Bodnar is pretty hot(especially during the masturbation scene)and the sex scenes are suitably titillating.Watch it,if you have got nothing better to do.