Jo Ann LeCompte plays Jean Norton, a 17-year-old wild child in too much of a hurry to "grow up". She basically *uses* her supposed "boyfriend" Tony (James Brooks) while making time with police detective Mack McKeen (Frank Roche). Tony takes it upon himself to investigate when, at one point, Jean goes missing.
A somewhat forgotten credit for the legendary "Godfather of Gore", writer-producer Herschell Gordon Lewis, this has earned some curiosity value for being the film debut for a very young Karen Black. However, her fans should be aware that she's really barely in the picture, playing minor roles: a dancer and an art model. Mostly, it's a vehicle for Ms. LeCompte, who's fairly watchable. Overall, the film is a decent enough but unexceptional exploitation-melodrama that will merit a viewing from some interested parties due to brief female nudity. But the story is nothing special. Ray Gronwold plays the antagonist, a sleazy painter dubbed The Beard....because he's got a beard. That should give you an idea of the quality of the writing, although there are *some* priceless lines here and there. Maria Pavelle is endearing as Gloria, Tony's loyal gal pal who we can all tell is better for him than Jean. For a while, Jean is not really a character worth caring about, and you have to wonder why Tony would bother going to such lengths, although she *does* become more sympathetic in the closing dozen minutes or so.
The quality of the black & white photography can be very murky, and the loud, incessant soundtrack almost threatens to drown out the dialogue at times. But curious viewers may want to give this one a look, if only for the sake of being HGL / Karen Black completists.
Five out of 10.
