When the horror market dried up, D'Amato seamlessly transitioned into the world of erotic and adult cinema. He began making softcore films like Eleven Days, Eleven Nights , eventually moving into hardcore pornography by the 1990s. It was in this later period that he created the "Queen of Elephants" films, mixing his love for exotic locations with erotic situations. His approach to filmmaking was purely practical: he was often unconcerned with high production values as long as the film was profitable, a mentality that led some critics to label him "The Evil Ed Wood".
For fans of Joe D’Amato, the film is a fascinating look at how he could transplant his obsession with the macabre and the sensual into any environment, proving that whether it was a haunted villa or the Sahara desert, the "Master of Exploitation" always knew how to capture the viewer's eye.
One of his most curious late-career series was Queen of Elephants – a loose trilogy or set of standalone films exploiting the perennial male fantasy of powerful, sensual "queens" ruling over remote, unforgiving landscapes. The second chapter, often listed as Queen of Elephants 2: Sahara (original Italian title likely La regina degli elefanti 2 – Sahara , c. 1998–1999), is a prime example of D'Amato's ability to blend softcore sensuality, pseudo-ethnographic adventure, and pure cinematic escapism on a minuscule budget. Joe D-Amato - Queen Of Elephants 2- Sahara -19...
The film was penned by frequent D'Amato collaborator Donna Dane and edited by Kathleen Stratton , keeping the tight-knit creative circle intact.
Critical Review: Joe D’Amato’s Commonly known by its alternate title, Queen of Elephants Part 2: Sahara When the horror market dried up, D'Amato seamlessly
D’Amato’s technical crudeness (day-for-night shooting, mismatched stock footage, dubbing) creates a dreamlike discontinuity. In a hypothetical Queen of Elephants 2 , the jarring cuts between actual Saharan landscapes and studio sand pits would enhance the surreal, almost psychedelic quality – turning budgetary limits into a stylistic signature.
The 1997 film follows a woman raised by elephants in Africa. She is brought back to Scotland by relatives to inherit her estate, leading to a "clash of cultures" narrative where she struggles to adapt to high society. His approach to filmmaking was purely practical: he
For fans of Joe D’Amato’s filmography, these titles represent his final era: a mix of farcical dialogue, library sound effects, and surprising bursts of cinematic beauty. While the "elephants" may be missing from the second half of the double feature, the director's ability to turn a simple adult production into a strange, atmospheric travelogue remains his most unique trait. Sahara (Video 1998)
Despite the English DVD title Queen of Elephants Part 2 Sahara , critics and viewers have noted several inconsistencies:
An analysis of this specific entry in Joe D'Amato’s filmography reveals its place within the broader context of Euro-sleaze and late-90s adult cinema. The Director: Joe D'Amato's Late-Career Shift
The first film stars the Italian actress as Jenny Mallory, a "wild child" who grew up in the Kenyan jungle among elephants after being lost as a young girl. The plot follows her discovery by relatives who travel from Scotland to find her.