Even though he didn't have a very big role here, he played it well. I laughed my butt off when Dr. Matteson warns Genie about Sabina (and HE even had kinky sex with her! What a hypocrite!)and says the word "fornicators" as if he hated saying it!
Too bad he had to die so brutally! I would have loved to have seen him tied to a bed, having sex with Sabina! THAT would have made a man of Winslow Leach!
If you haven't already, read Sade's Philosophy in the Bedroom. A fair amount of dialogue from the book is used in the film. The characters are drawn from it as well.
Eugénie de Mistival, a young girl debauched by libertines = Genie
Chevalier, a young libertine & Dolmancé, a libertine = Paul Chevalier
Madame de Saint-Ange, a young libertine woman = Sabina
Madame de Mistival, Eugénie's pious mother = Dr. Matteson
Monsieur de Mistival, (only mentioned in book), Eugénie's father, another libertine, secretly carrying on with Saint-Ange = Dr.Matteson
There are things that I like about the movie, I just wish it hadn't veered so heavily into the slasher movie realm. I much would have preferred an erotic, psychological thriller. I think Paul descending into madness and attempting to "become" his ancestor and emulate his writings would have made for a more interesting movie. And I, too, enjoyed William Finley in this.