KILINK: STRIP AND KILL (1967)

Kilink Soy ve Öldür (1967), also known as Kilink: Strip and Kill, is the third installment in the Turkish Kilink film series directed by Yılmaz Atadeniz. The film continues the adventures of the notorious supervillain Kilink, who has become a cult icon in Turkish pop culture.

In Kilink Soy ve Öldür, Kilink, the skeletal supervillain, is back with more diabolical plans. The film follows his usual pattern of criminal activities, this time involving a plot that blends elements of crime, seduction, and mayhem. Kilink uses his charm and ruthlessness to manipulate and destroy those who stand in his way. As in the previous films, the plot is secondary to the film’s blend of action, sex appeal, and the bizarre charm of its titular anti-hero.

The film is very much in line with the style established in the first two Kilink movies. It is characterized by low-budget production values, campy special effects, and an overall sense of playful absurdity. The movie takes cues from the Italian fumetti (comic books) that inspired it, particularly in its emphasis on eroticism and violence, though it remains relatively tame by today’s standards.

The film’s title, Strip and Kill, hints at its risqué content, which features several scenes of seduction and betrayal. However, like its predecessors, the film never takes itself too seriously, maintaining a tone that is more tongue-in-cheek than genuinely threatening. The minimalist sets, basic cinematography, and over-the-top performances add to the film’s kitsch value, making it a favorite among fans of obscure and cult cinema.

Kilink Soy ve Öldür is appreciated by fans for its unapologetic embrace of pulp sensibilities. It’s a film that revels in its own absurdity, offering a blend of crime, comic book-style action, and exploitation elements that appeal to those who enjoy vintage B-movies. While it might not win over mainstream audiences, the film is celebrated in niche circles for its contribution to the Turkish genre film scene of the 1960s.

This movie, like the rest of the Kilink series, is best enjoyed by those with a taste for the eccentric and the unconventional. Kilink Soy ve Öldür is a prime example of how Turkish cinema adapted Western pop culture phenomena, blending them with local flavors to create something uniquely its own. For fans of cult cinema, particularly those interested in international interpretations of comic book villains, this film is a fascinating and entertaining watch.