Robert J. Avrech, a director and writer, made a notable impact in the realm of cult cinema with his work on Death of a Nun (1980), where he served both as director and writer. This film delves into the unsettling world of religious horror, a genre that resonates with fans of exploitation cinema. Avrech also contributed to Body Double (1984) as a writer, adding to the film's complex narrative of obsession and voyeurism. His unique storytelling style and thematic focus on the darker aspects of human nature make his films essential viewing for enthusiasts of the genre.
Death of a Nun
Thirty-something devoted Catholic Marie isn't getting any younger and her father is pressuring her to find a husband. She works as a secretary for Henry Stern and she falls for one of his clients - the charming, good looking and a bit older antique book dealer John McPherson. Despite his traumatic childhood and her sexual repression, they hit it off and he soon proposes marriage. She's delighted, although her parents are a bit worried since she barely knows him. It soon turns out that John does indeed have a dark violent secret tied to his traumatic first sexual experience as a very young boy, which led to his lifelong sadomasochistic obsession with Sister Marry, a beautiful diabolical nun he once knew as a child. The disturbing memories of her have been haunting him ever since and now he looks for women who look like her to hurt them. And unsuspecting Marie is a dead ringer for her. However, John is about to realize that Sister Marry is not who he thinks she is.
