For those of you that have seen this movie - could you clarify something for me? Why did those 'villagers' kill Sebastian? Because he was gay? Just because of that? Did they mob him for his money? When they cornered him the way they did, I got the impression they MEANT to kill him, but I'm not sure.

Disturbing movie. Great acting by Elizabeth Taylor.

Hi 'dax . . . I think this was Liz Taylor's finest hour. The last twenty minutes of this film, during which Liz recounts what happened to Sebastian . . . simply cannot be described.

Regarding the 'dinner scene,' starring Cousin Sebastian, I think it was payback time, for CS. He had used these boys, had sex with them, pandered to them, then when he felt like it: Sebastian chose simply to behave as though they didn't exist. Also, these kids were hungry . . . bon appetit!

I always thought that scene was meant to be read on a couple of levels. You can see it in a karmic or political sense--as payback for the exploitation; or you can just see it as part of the whole warped sexual fantasy that is central to the narrative. The ultimate climax, as it were.

I understand now. I had even thought that maybe he had done something to one of those boys that was 'forced' and people found out somehow, I mean - I just didn't immediately get it. But I did get the metaphor of the turtles/birds and how Sebastian died in a 'similar' way.

I agree that this was an intense performance by Taylor. I had no idea she had that kind of range. I was very impressed and moved by her performance.

I probably won't be watching this any time soon again. It was too disturbing for me. So sad, so ugly, so raw.

Thanks for clarifying this for me!

So there seems to be a precedent for gay cannibalism -- it wasn't invented by those two nut cases in Germany, then. But, hey! There is the killer's excuse -- he saw Suddenly Last Summer, so he was compelled to murder! Calling Mark Garregos, calling Mark Garregos...