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Mau Mau Sex Sex (2001)

Buy it at : http://www.maumausexsex.com/

Dir: Ted Bonnitt

Not and Exploitation film itself as such....But one of the best films about Exploitation!

"Mau Mau Sex Sex" the warm, funny, insightful and vastly entertaining documentary, Directed by Ted Bonnitt and written by Eddie Muller, about those 2 Exploitation greats David F Friedman and Dan Sonney!

They were two of the great showmen of the 2nd generation (coming after the infamous 'Carny' distributors/producers like 'The 40 Thieves' from the 30's/40's) of Exploiteers.
Producing, distributing and stupendously marketing some of the best, worst and just damn entertaining Exploitation/Grindhouse/Drive-In movies of the 60's-70's.

This is simply wonderful.
Great interviews with the two guys that cover many tales about the business, a look at their home and Family lives (with some insightful and honest looks at the way they lead their lives) and at Friedman's still going strong Carnival.
The 'personal' highlight with these guys has to be the car ride they take that has some great memories being told and a lot of light hearted bitching between the two friends, especially Sonney having a dig at Friedman's sex life.

Dave (L) Dan (R)

In-between we have some great as ever contributions by "Basket Case" director and film guru Frank Henenlotter about the guys and the films (seated in his apartment that is a truly amazing sight as he has a huge, room length, floor to ceiling shelving unit PACKED with Horror/Exploitation titles...it will make you drool) with that great enthusiasm that comes across in his many write-ups for 'Something Weird Video'.

Talking of which we get to meet 'Something Weird's' Mike Vraney and get a glorious look at the 'Something Weird' film archives ( (heaven!!).

And of course we have loads of clips and trailers from Sonney's and Friedman's productions, from the 'morality' films like "Child Bride" to the 'Nudie Cutie's' to the brilliant 'Roughie' titles, and the more horror orientated movies like "Blood Feast".

Some of the other films we see are THE classic 'Roughie' "The Defilers", "Maniac", "Thar She Blows", "Mau-Mau", "A Taste of Honey a Swallow of Brine", "Forbidden Adventure", the hysterically bizarre "Mr Peter's Pets", the rare "The Pick-Up" with a Friedman starring sex scene (!) and the porn Western "The Ramrodder".... to name just a few.

Some great clips...In fact this made me buy Dwain Esper's wonderful "Maniac" from 1934. A film that is a warped and wonderful blueprint for Exploitation to come.

ESSENTIAL viewing for all Exploitation/Grindhouse fans and it's on a very nice DVD too with some fun Trailers, poster stills and 2 commentary tracks. One with Dave and Dan and the other with Bonnitt and Muller.

Sadly the wonderful Dan Sonney died in 2002, a year after doing the commentary track
A great loss, and as his Dad, Louis, is pretty much the pioneer that gave us the Exploitation we came to know and love, and Dan himself produced and distributed some great Trash Cinema. RIP.

Friedman of course is still going strong and recently produced HG Lewis's "Blood Feast 2" and is currently working on a new version of his favourite film "She Freak"!

Great films, great times, great characters....Great documentary.