If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Meridian is an erotic horror film that used to be known under the name 'Phantoms' here in the UK. It was directed by Charles Band for his Full Moon production company who were known purveyors of B-movie schlock. This one seems to have a bit more of a budget about it, although it was still a straight-to-video effort. In fact, it could easily pass itself off as an Italian movie, seeing as it benefits from a very nice on-location Roman setting; while the soundtrack from the popular composer Pino Donaggio gives it a lush Euro atmosphere, in a late 80's kind of way. Its story focuses on a young American woman Catherine who inherits an Italian castle. One day, she and her friend encounter a group of travelling carnies whom they invite over for dinner, only for this to end in both girls being drugged and raped by their guests. Supernatural events follow…The film is sort of a sex and horror version of the 'Beauty and the Beast' story and keeping with its fairy-tale roots it remains a pretty restrained, albeit erotic in places. The reason it's sexy is also the prime reason to see it and that is undoubtedly on account of its two incredible leading ladies, Sherilyn Fenn and Charlie Spradling. They are certainly the best thing about this one and both feature prominently in a very sensual and well shot erotic sequence, which you will sure know when you see it. As astronomically beautiful as Ms Fenn is, I actually thought that Charlie was - incredibly - even more attractive. Needless to say, these girls are pure candy for the eyes. Unfortunately Charlie more or less vanishes for the second half of the movie and the plot then focuses on the ghostly goings on surrounding Sherilyn. Perhaps inevitably after such a strong start the film does fade somewhat as it goes on, yet it remains pretty stylish and entertaining for the most part. But see it for Charlie and Sherilyn would be my advice.

It's the moment you've been waiting for! Sherilyn Fenn in the buff, and as an added bonus, some other actress too.Sherilyn's just returned to Italy to her family castle as a successful sculptress, and is welcomed home by her old nanny. Her friend, also American, restores paintings and heads over for the weekend for a bit of a laugh. At the same time, however, a strange travelling freak show turn up and Sherilyn's a bit taken by the leader of the show: some guy who, judging by his dress sense, wouldn't have looked amiss singing for Spandau Ballet.The freak show are invited to the castle for dinner, and before you know it, Sherilyn and her friend have been drugged and ended up getting raped by the ringleader and a mysterious masked man, who not only is the twin of the ringleader of the freaks, but also turns into some sort of beast mid-coitus. This actor, in real life, probably chalks up this scene, where he gets to lie naked with both actresses, as the 'best thing he's ever done ever'. I'll bet he's still grinning and pinching himself to this day. Turns out these New Romantic twins are ancient brothers, and one of them is evil and the other one just wants to be free of the curse. This is all linked to Sherilyn's family, and a painting her friend is restoring, and one of the characters may even be a ghost, and by that I don't mean the actual ghost that's kicking about. Much spooky happenings, romance, and naked Fenn scenes ensue.I quite liked Phantoms, for what it was. I've never been big on rape in films, mind you, but this all seems to be tied in with the plot somehow. There's effective scenes of the brothers emerging from the walls of the castle. It's very close in spirit to the actual home grown Italian horror movies of this era (Specters, Demons 3 The Ogre) although it's slightly lacking in the cheese department. Recommended for those who are unnerved at trying anything that has the name 'Charles Brand' attached to it.

Two American students go to Italy after graduating from art school, one to work in restoration of paintings, the other because she's inherited her father's castle. When the restorer visits her friend at the castle, they invite the players of a travelling sideshow to dinner, and are slipped drugs, leading to an orgy of abandon. The woman who owns the castle keeps having visions of a young woman who has been stabbed. After talking to her nanny, she finds that the "vision" woman is her father's sister, who was murdered brutally as the consequence of a 15th Century curse put on her family, and that she is the next in line, and the troupe they have entertained is a part of the curse....So the film looks good, very good in one scene, but when it has something like that so early on in the film, where do you go from there?Well according to this film, nowhere, just keep shooting the scenery, put a ghost and a beast in the film, and chuck in the old beauty and the beast film.It doesn't work one bit, it's uncomfortable to sit through, and becomes a chore very quickly.Boring and drab.

Two lovely American girls go to Italian castle to paint and restore pictures.During their visit they run into a traveling sideshow and invite all the members of said sideshow over to the castle for dinner.An orgy results with the girls being drugged and raped by two men.One of them is transforming into beast due to the curse.The romance between the beast and Sherilyn Fenn ensues...I wanted to see "Meridian" because of "Twin Peaks" starlet Sherilyn Fenn,one of the most beautiful actresses of 80's and early 90's.She and Charlie Spradling have some wonderfully sensual sex scenes in this mildly interesting and rather watered down Walerian Borowczyk's "The Beast" clone.Still "Meridian" is worth watching for stunningly ravishing Sherilyn Fenn.6 out of 10.