Like many European filmmakers of the past, Spain’s Jess Franco was a Rubik’s Cube puzzle with many different sides. Sustaining a career that spanned nearly sixty years, it is estimated that Franco wrote, directed, produced, and composed well over one hundred and sixty feature films. An astounding number, most recognize Franco for his contributions to the Horror and Erotic genres, with standouts including 1970s films such as Night of the Blood Monster and Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion, as well as 1981’s Bloody Moon and Zombie Lake.
Just a few of the many entries into cinema created by Franco, there was still more to his personality beyond horror, sadomasochism, and erotic-laden stories. Taking this into consideration, in 1987, Franco released arguably one of his most unique films, entitled Las chicas del tanga, also known to the English-speaking world as Thong Girls.
Upon first glance what would appear to be a Sex Comedy in the vain of American films like 1981’s Porky’s 1983’s Screw Balls, or 1984’s Hardbodies, Thong Girls is is quite different. Possessing a title that fits the bill of Raunchy Comedy, it also has classic ‘80s style theatrical art with the depiction of a lovely female body in front of a large sun, with palm trees dressing a beachfront community. However, Franco’s Thong Girls takes a much more sensitive approach to relationships and love.
Coming several years after the Horror boom in the earlier part of the ’80s and with the more widespread acceptance of more explicit Erotic films, perhaps Franco felt there was little room for his brand of Horror or more tame form of eroticism, so he opted to take his filmmaking in a completely different direction with Thong Girls. Directing and writing the film, with Thong Girls, he utilizes the coastal Spanish city of Benidorm as the main focal point.
With various shots of a summertime scene with people eating at cafes, relaxing on the beach, and walking the streets in and out of shops and hotels, you get a genuine feel of Benidorm as a colorful tourist location. Truly enticing, you are soon immersed in the experiences of several individuals who are spending their holiday on the coast.
You have a French tourist named Muriel (played by Muriel Montossé who starred in many films, including Franco’s Voodoo Passion from 1977) who crosses paths with a local gigolo named Tony (played by accomplished, talented Spanish Actor Antonio Mayans), a famous singer named Lola Clavijo (portrayed by famed, prolific Actress Lina Romay who worked countless films with Franco) looking for love in all the wrong places, a local skater named Patinadora (played by Analía Ivars) who ‘accidentally’ keeps bumping into a Dutch architect taking photos, as well as a young woman with no place to go (played by an actress credited as Gina) taken in by a seemingly gentle local body builder named Paco (Rafael Cayetano).
These situations laid out, you would imagine there would be a sex romp, tons of goofy antics, and ample nudity, but Thong Girls is by and large the opposite. Sure, the film is sexual, and there are moments of nudity, but what stands out is that the characters are involved. Far from shallow, they presented with a bit of depth and humanity that you connect with. All looking for what you might consider a casual encounter or a summer fling, what you find is that they are truthfully longing for love, affection, and a place of comfort.
Filmed in a colorfully vibrant fashion, the mood of Thong Girls is a mix of emotions that leans toward comedic attributes, but with a more human-interest story. With all this said, it is perhaps a Jess Franco film that many outside of Spain would not have seen or known. As a matter of fact, it probably has been that way for the last nearly forty years, but on February 25, 2025, Severin Films brought Thong Girls to Blu-ray.
The worldwide premiere of Thong Girls on Blu-ray is a fantastic opportunity for Jess Franco fans to see a completely different side of the director. Presented with a new 2K scan from the original camera negative, the clarity and contrast are impressive. Furthermore, there are over two hours of new special features, including audio commentary and a great interview with Stephen Thrower, called Jess Franco’s Naked City, which offers insightful context on Franco and the ideas behind Thong Girls.
Overall, Thong Girls is a fun film with a heart that will make you laugh and smile simultaneously. That is why it is highly recommended to pick up this special new release of the film on Blu-ray from Severin Films, with Cryptic Rock giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
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