Adventure Cult Classic

From hospital heartbreak to wild jungle obsessions, one woman’s quest uncovers primal desires.

MISTRESS OF THE APES

She found fulfillment in the jungle...With the ape that walked like a man!

1979 · 1h 24m · R · Adventure · IMDB TMDB

Jenny Neumann takes a group of men into the jungles of Kenya to look for her husband, and instead finds a tribe of caveman-looking "Near-Men" who all seem terribly attracted to her beautiful blond hair.

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Quick Answer

What is Mistress of the Apes about?

Mistress of the Apes is a 1979 American adventure film directed by Larry Buchanan about a woman who, after the traumatic loss of her baby and her husband's disappearance in Africa, leads an expedition into the jungle and discovers a tribe of primitive, caveman-like men.

Programmer's Pick

Larry Buchanan’s foray into jungle pulp throws medical tragedy, drug heists, and a tribe of lusty Near-Men into one steamy, off-kilter expedition. It’s a psychotronic cocktail that’s as much about primal spectacle as it is about searching for lost men—one for aficionados of the wild and weird.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Mistress of the Apes follows Susan Jamison, the wife of a renowned anthropologist, whose life is upended when a drug-fueled hospital raid results in the stillbirth of her child. As she struggles to recover emotionally, she learns her husband has vanished during an expedition in Africa. Determined to uncover his fate and reclaim some control over her life, she assembles a team and heads deep into the Kenyan jungle. There, Susan stumbles upon a tribe of "Near-Men," primitive caveman-like beings whose fascination with her blond hair adds a peculiar twist to her search. The film blends jungle adventure with exploitation, setting up a bizarre and provocative journey.

Details & Specs

Director: Larry Buchanan
Writer: Larry Buchanan
Release: 1979
Runtime: 1h 24m
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Genres: Adventure

Cast & Crew

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Director: Larry Buchanan Writer: Larry Buchanan

Jenny Neumann Susan Jamison

Barbara Leigh Laura

Garth Pillsbury Paul Cory WR Walt Robin David

Stuart Lancaster Brady MR Mark Rhudy Matthews MM Marius Mazmanian Sikes BB Barry Buchanan First Cop BD Blayne Dennis Second Cop

Dale Kalberg Nurse BM Burr Middleton Doctor

Suzy Mandel Secretary GT George Travis Bantu Chief MB Maida Belove Near Woman AD Angela De Joseph Bantu Maiden RD Ric Drasin Near Man DG Dennis Gable Near Man SK Sandra Kaye Bantu Maiden FM Frank Martone Near Man DP Dale Park Gorilla Savage JL Joseph Leo Sexton Near Man PS Paula Sills Bantu Maiden VT Vince Torrente Near Man RV Raymond Vellucci Junkie

Explore More

Independent Film Female Nudity Psychotronic Film Nudity Rape Exploitation Jungle

Why Cult

Jungle Exploitation

This film delivers a wild blend of jungle adventure and exploitation cinema, with a tribe of caveman-like Near-Men and an undercurrent of psychotronic weirdness.

Female-Led Expedition

Jenny Neumann leads a cast into the heart of Kenya, flipping the typical jungle rescue narrative on its head.

Psychotronic Vibes

Classified as a psychotronic and independent film, it’s a true oddity for fans of offbeat exploitation fare.

Bizarre Near-Men Tribe

Encounter the Near-Men, a primitive tribe whose obsession with blond hair takes the adventure into strange and provocative territory.