To wit: How many movies open with a shot of the Canadian flag fluttering in the breeze? This is followed almost immediately by a Mountie slipping back into his full red regalia after hooking up in the forest with the titular Vixen. Vixen is unapologetically sexually voracious, married but always in search of new lovers. Throughout the course of the film, Vixen seduces several men, including her husband, the husbands of other women, and in one case, a husband AND wife (on separate occasions). And yet, tellingly, Vixen is no homewrecker--on the contrary, the couples she interacts with all wind up closer after their experiences with her.
The film contains some pretty raw, on-point commentary about racial stereotyping too, and from a very convincing and passionate black actor--Harrison Page (maybe best known as Captain Trunk from Sledge Hammer!) as Niles. Several times, Niles speaks difficult truths about race relations in the 1960s that remain tragically relevant even in 2026.
Erica Gavin as Vixen is unironically great in this. And her husband is hilariously both supportive of and appalled by his wife's behaviour, especially her blatant racism, which would frankly ruin the film if it weren't for how her attitude evolves in the 11th hour.
Also, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that Vixen's brother Budd, a white guy who wears a swastika on his vest, actually tries to be a good friend (in his way) to Niles--who, by the way, is a principled Viet Nam draft dodger and wears a peace medallion. What a pair! The racial, sexual, and social politics of this film are all over the place, but weirdly progressive somehow.
I salute you, Russ Meyer.
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