Alan Abel, born in 1938, is a multifaceted talent known for his work in cult cinema. He both directed and starred in Is There Sex After Death? (1971), a film that delves into the provocative intersection of sexuality and mortality. Abel's unique approach to storytelling challenges societal norms, making his work a staple in the exploration of erotic themes within the realm of exploitation cinema. His contributions to this genre highlight the often-overlooked narratives that provoke thought and discussion.
Is There Sex After Death?
This film is a crazy quilt of tongue in cheek vignettes, all spoofing the sexual revolution of the 70’s. It is great dirty satire featuring some of the best improvisational comedians of the era, including Buck Henry and the hilarious Marshall Efron. Many of the movie’s funniest sequences take place at the Bureau of Sexological Investigation where the head doctor, Alan Abel, instructs his patients on solving a variety of weirdly humorous maladies. There are also real on the street interviews with Abel and an inspired group of people. Throw in a topless string quartet, a pornographic opera, life inside a nudist camp, and a marvelous bit with an X-rated filmmaker, and you have a constant barrage of laughs. The most comical scene is The International Sex Bowl sequence at the end, which remains a classic piece of comedy. Highly recommended.
