I thought I would strike while the iron is still relatively hot and write about another XXX movie. The BDSM-heavy no-budget home invasion roughie The Intrusion.

Starring: Kim Pope, Michael Dattorre (Michael Gaunt), Levi Richards, and Lynn Bishop.

The director credit is given to an Arthur Nouveau, who unsurprisingly has no other credits (writer, producer, etc.) to their name. It must be a pseudonym for someone who wishes to remain anonymous and it's quite a smart alias too, referencing the late 19th century Art Nouveau movement and style.

I watched the interview included on the Vinegar Syndrome disc with actor Michael Gaunt, hoping he might shine some light on just exactly who was behind the camera. Unfortunately, he only recalls that the filmmakers were a pair of film school graduates trying to pay off their student loans. Of course, Gaunt could just be referring to John Dunlap and Ira Sampson the two credited for camera operator and assistant camera respectively. It doesn't help that aside from the four players, nobody else involved in the production appears to have made another film.

I've read elsewhere that Arthur Nouveau is an alleged pseudonym for Zebedy Colt (The Farmer's Daughters (1976), Terri's Revenge (1976), and The Devil Inside Her (1977)), but he would have been 46 in 1975 and it's unlikely he would be a film school graduate. He was already featuring in several movies in 1975 (The American Adventures of Surelick Holmes, The Story of Johanna, and Sherlick Holmes), not to mention his uncredited roles from 1934 - 1939 as a child.

Although I couldn't find anything to truly confirm or deny this alleged pseudonym for Colt, I happened to find a newspaper ad for screenings of The Intrusion at the Cine Lido and Lido East in NYC. Billed as "Intrusions", the ad also misspells his first name as "Zebeby", but Colt's name is listed there next to Kim Pope's. Perhaps this is marks the beginning of the confusion, or it's the proof that the project was indeed helmed by none other than Zebedy Colt.

It's clear that whoever was behind this sleazy little picture had a vision for "something" and more than a passing interesting in BDSM. The Intrusion is an unrelenting depiction of sexual violence and male dominance.

The real "action" doesn't start until about 20 minutes in, but once it gets going it doesn't let up. The set up couldn't be any simpler, in fact there's almost no plot - The picture opens with an over-the-shoulder shot of somebody driving, before cutting to Ellen Anderson (Kim Pope) and Her husband (Levi Richards) sipping morning coffee together. The film almost weaves a split narrative through quick editing during the opening, alternately flicking between the happy couple and the antagonist. The husband reads the paper and then gives Ellen a quick bonking before leaving for work.
While Ellen busies herself with her chores there's several quick cuts to The Intruder; he opens a suitcase filled with supplies and takes out a pair of wire cutters, severing the telephone lines. Tension and dread are steadily built throughout the opening 15 minutes and although the character of Ellen is only on-screen for a short time she's very likeable. Then it hits, hell comes home with a knock at the door. It's Michael Gaunt, in his debut role billed with his real name - Michael Dattorre.

The insurance salesman gives his spiel, but Ellen declines. He responds by dramatically thrusting the door wide open, sending Ellen to the floor. It transpires that he's not a traveling insurance salesman at all, but in fact a roaming sexual predator.
The Intruder binds Ellen and moves her upstairs, disrobing her and throwing her on the bed. There's a humorous unintentional blunder when The Intruder seats Ellen in the bathroom so he can rifle through her jewellery uninterrupted. Gaunt attempts to shut the door behind himself, but closes it a bit too harshly on Pope's leg; without breaking character, he repositions her leg and lets out a "Sorry". Ellen is moved back into the bedroom and bound to the bed. Gaunt starts to pull his best set of degenerate faces while simultaneously assaulting Pope's face with his penis. "You like it!"

Just shy of the 40 minute mark, the doorbell rings. Uh oh! It's Ellen's friend, Gail (Lynn Bishop), Gaunt answers the door and invites her inside. It's interesting that he actually gives his name as Ray here, but the character is never credited as such. Once he gets Gail upstairs he binds her wrists and undresses her too. Maybe it's obvious and I just never saw it the first time around, but I swear Lynn Bishop's bush is trimmed into the shape of a heart!

The Intruder's luck runs out when distracted by Gail's oral attentions he drops the switchblade. It's quickly seized by Gail who wastes little time in putting it to good use repeatedly stabbing him. It's interesting, and also kind of funny, how as he's dying he doesn't stop his oral attention on Ellen.

The score sounds like you're standing in an arcade next to a Pac-Man machine and the person playing keeps succumbing to the four colour ghosts. It's a Casio keyboard nightmare replete with atonal notes and arpeggios. At times there's a throbbing synth bass note, not unlike that in Jaws (1975), an aural symbolisation with each throb representing a countdown to the impending attack; the predator growing ever closer to its prey. This is used to a chilling effect during the first act, where the sex scene between Ellen and her husband is periodically intercut with The Intruder driving around the neighbourhood in his station wagon. It's highly effective and adds to the whole unease and intensity of what you're soon to be confronted with visually.

I'm not sure if it was an intentional choice or just a budgetary thing, but there are some really long takes present in The Intrusion. The scenes of Gaunt and Pope are upsetting, yet riveting with how drawn-out they are, you're almost left begging for a cut as respite.
Gaunt as the merciless Intruder relentlessly abuses Ellen; there's an utterly degrading sequence where he fuck Pope with the handle of his switchblade. I can remember watching the scene play out the first time thinking "he's not gonna... he's not... he can't!" but, sure enough he does. Sorry creeps, I gotta try and retain some level of decorum here so there'll be no screenshots of that!

Without a doubt, The Intrusion is a gruelling picture, yet the main factor for its unpleasantness isn't merely the subject matter, it's carried and bolstered by the outstanding performances of Kim Pope and Michael Gaunt - solidifying it as one of the better '70s hardcore roughies.