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Vice has become one of my favorites, as well. It’s unique. Are we running out of quality content? Who’s going to address stuff like Buio Omega and The New York Ripper? (Not me) Right now, I’m soaking in the weirdness of Torso. I have the feeling that my comments might be a thinly-veiled attack on the DeAngelis brothers….
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And just for the sake of comedy, check out the grimy American trailer for Torso (on YouTube, not the Blu-ray) which proudly touts it as being “from the producer of Doctor Zhivago”, which is true, but I don’t see a big overlap between the two audiences. (Unless you’re a fan of obnoxious musical scores)
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Statistical analysis meets Sex n’ violence as Professor R. Herring, his Vector-autoregressive models and I vivisect the reigning Giallo Bingo points leader…. Torso (1973) The final entry in Sergio Martino’s five-film giallo cycle, one of the two Italian horrors (with Mario Bava’s Bay of Blood, charmingly retitled Twitch of the Death Nerve) to make a splash on the American grindhouse circuit in a big way, which suggests certain downmarket qualities… And yes,there’s a little sex and more than a little T&A on display here (note that the two lead actresses don’t participate), but if that has you clutching your pearls, this probably isn’t the film for you… Violence-wise, besides a couple of gory details early on (unlike Bava’s film which revels in its black-humored “My movies aren’t violent enough, huh?” one-upsmanship) this isn’t too tough- the most grisly depredations of its final section, where the killer dismantles his “dolls of flesh and blood” are carefully obscured (much like the hideous and virtually bloodless Texas Chalnsaw Massacre a year later) I can’t say enough about this final act of the movie,a cinematic showcase for Martino (with help from writer Gastaldi) that evinces Hitchcockian audience-manipulation skills, culminating in a sequence that literally (and humorously, if you remember the mad title of Martino’s previous film) involves a Locked Room and a Key… On a less fortunate Hitchcockian note, kind of like Torn Curtain, the film- makers bypassed a terrific composer, who had been doing excellent work for them (maybe for a more commercial approach) and ended up with some dorky, bland MOR jive (done by the only two boobs in this movie that no one will give a shit about) Previously rated by Tall Guy (I swear I’m not picking on you) at 18 points, although in all honesty we hit the wall at 16. Keep in mind we were using the reduced-form model and not the structural form… What the hell did I miss? Damned subjectivity! As Prof. Herring said, right before I backhanded him, “You know, we’ve had a lot of fun here today, kids, but I think we’ve learned something, too”
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The Devil Has 7 Faces(1971) With Carol Baker, George Hilton and Stephen Boyd It's billed as a giallo, so it's here. Though I think it has less in. Ommon than usual but hey ho. Baker plays twins, though you wouldn't know it as they never appear on screen, together. One has stole a diamond. The thugs think the wrong sister has it. The hunt is on. Funky music = no, but Stel doing groovy to good effect Twist ending = yes, it's the other sister after all Witness of murder = yes, in the sense that she's there when they happen, rather than peeping from inside a wardrobe. Striptease= not a sniff Killer’s POV= not that kind of film Man slaps woman= yes , just then once Overloud or inappropriate music = you must he joking. One of the more restrained and melodic Outrageous title = not really, unless you know, for a fact, that the devil doesn't have seven faces. J&B bottle= no I thought I saw one but I think it was wishful thinking Naked woman= no Death by stabbing = no only bullets Red herring= yes, kind of right near the beginning. Black gloved killer= no, too warm for gloves Goofy police inspector= no, he was quite bright and laid back Important picture= nope Woman takes bath or shower= no Blackmail= no Gay/lesbian character= if only Important memory= I do t remember Random scene in Italian= no Ooh ooh music= no though plenty of Nora, as it was Edda's bingo night. Death by razor=no Childhood trauma== no Killer’s footsteps=no, they didn't bother rsnaleaking around A poor four.
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In Memory of Bruno Nicolai, born this day in 1926. Thankfully, we now have a good selection of Bruno’s work as a composer to enjoy, bringing him out from the massive shadow of Ennio Morricone (though obviously there’s no shame in Nicolai’s involvement in the Maestro’s magnificent scores from 1965-1974, only glory) Active and adept in the most popular Italian genres, producing cool scores like $100000 for Ringo and Special Mission Lady Chaplin, he found himself in our neighborhood, carving out his own niche in the Black-gloved Underground with- The Scorpion’s Tail The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave All the Colors of the Dark The French Sex Murders The Red Queen Kills Seven Times The Case of the Bloody Iris Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key and yes, Eyeball- Leaving him standing, with his memorable/scary/beautiful music, with the other musical Giallo icons, Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani, and Goblin. Rest in Peace, Maestro Nicolai.
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Posted: |
May 25, 2023 - 10:49 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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In Memory of Bruno Nicolai, born this day in 1926. Thankfully, we now have a good selection of Bruno’s work as a composer to enjoy, bringing him out from the massive shadow of Ennio Morricone (though obviously there’s no shame in Nicolai’s involvement in the Maestro’s magnificent scores from 1965-1974, only glory) Active and adept in the most popular Italian genres, producing cool scores like $100000 for Ringo and Special Mission Lady Chaplin, he found himself in our neighborhood, carving out his own niche in the Black-gloved Underground with- The Scorpion’s Tail The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave All the Colors of the Dark The French Sex Murders The Red Queen Kills Seven Times The Case of the Bloody Iris Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key and yes, Eyeball- Leaving him standing, with his memorable/scary/beautiful music, with the other musical Giallo icons, Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani, and Goblin. Rest in Peace, Maestro Nicolai. Nice tribute - there are several of my favourites amongst those Bruno scores.
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One wonders how his own music wouldve sounded without the daily access to the Ennio alchemy? That said, it would be interesting how all the italians wouldve sounded if not for Ennio establishing blueprints for almost all genres? Although i like the way all of them attempted Ennio blueprints but managed to work in their own trademark styles and specialities.
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It sounds like Nicolai, as a composer, was more connected with the orchestral “Hollywood” musical language, I think, than Morricone, who at the time probably would have rejected such influences (though they come through loud and clear in Guns for San Sebastián and The Big Gundown, for example) If you listen to one of the Morricone/Nicolai two-handers like Bandits in Rome or Operation Kid Brother, I think you can tell who did what, just based on how “experimentally” far each track might go…. Maybe I’m just splitting hairs between two pros who I love and respect.
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Maybe I’m just splitting hairs between two pros who I love and respect. Correct!
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Phenomena (1984) directed by Dario Argento with Jennifer Connelly and Donald Pleasence In “Swiss Transylvania” at the “Richard Wagner International School for Girls”, new student Jennifer (who can communicate with and control insects) teams up with handicapped Scottish entomologist Donald (and his chimp companion) to bust a (rather short) black-glover who’s got a sharpened pole to grind with the silly students who wander about at night…. A whack-a-doodle “Alice in Wonderland” to Suspiria’s “Snow White” that thankfully finds Argento and crew in good technical form, telling its goofy story coherently (if not sensibly);you’ll probably even like Jenny and Donald (in probably his most sympathetic role since The Great Escape). But… Fair warning, this plows through its giallo trappings in its final section and dives deep into the over-the-top world of ‘80s Italian horror that (almost) reaches Fulci-level grotesqueness-not for the lily-livered and/or yellow-bellied… Music by (then-current) Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, Simonetti and Pignatelli of Goblin, Simon Boswell, Iron Maiden and Motörhead. Funky music- Wyman’s unreleased “Valley Bolero” at the 39-minute mark qualifies, I think, point Twist ending- tempting, but as I posited earlier in this thread “an unexpected killer demise does not a twist ending make” I’m gonna say no Witness of murder-while sleepwalking, point Striptease-no Killer POV-Steadicam on display, point Man slaps woman-no Overloud/inappropriate music- between Maiden’s “Flash of the Blade” and Motörhead’s “Locomotive”, big time point Outrageous title-no J&B-no Naked woman- they’re much too young, no Death by stabbing- sure, point Red herring- not really Black gloves- point Goofy inspector-no, but he doesn’t do himself any favors Important picture-no Bath or shower-no Blackmail-no Gay character-no Important memory- a housefly remembers where the killers live, point Scene in Italian-no Ooh ooh music-scary soprano from the Goblins, not quite the ticket Death by razor-a nasty one, point Childhood trauma-a fkn walking breathing one, point Killer’s footsteps- I think so, point A not-so-phenomenal 10 points.
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Sorry, I didn’t know one of the iPhone’s features was “fractured pentameter”
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Posted: |
Jun 17, 2023 - 1:19 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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The Bloodstained Shadow (Antonio Bido, 1978) This is a film that compares itself with Don’t Look Now, presumably because of the Venetian backdrop, but while I admire its self-confidence, it isn’t really in the same league. However, it’s entertaining and you don’t know who the bad guy is until a huge coincidence provides the key. Weak-mouthed young maths professor visits his priestly older brother at the time when a years-old murder starts to unravel. Is the professor more than he seems? What secrets are the locals hiding at a weekly seance? How does the priest nearly get headbutted to death by Jesus? How does the professor end up nekkid with the leading ragazza when she’s as out of his league at DLN is to this film? Some of these questions and more may be answered by the end of the film. Funky music - Cipriano goes full funk right at the main title stage Twist ending - on reflection, I’m allowing this Witness of murder - yes, the priest watches a woman being strangled below his window in a storm window and doesn’t even shout, instead looking for his brother and the caretaker, both of whom have been out in the rain… Striptease - not even close Killer’s POV - yes, while stalking the sinister local Count in his own home Man slaps woman - no, although they’d have been forgiven Overloud or inappropriate music - no, although you do wonder why the Rite of Spring is accompanying a tense scene, only to find that it’s diegetic Outrageous title - more lurid and illogical than outrageous J&B bottle - yep, three times in two different locations Naked woman - yes, after drying off from a blow on the lagoon, as you do Death by stabbing - yes, the dissolute Count is piked to death Red herring - yes, and plenty o’them Black-gloved killer - there certainly is a killer with gloves of a dark and leathern nature Goofy police inspector - no, just a bit absent Important picture - yes, a rather unhappy looking painting, and also a photograph of it Woman takes bath or shower - nope Blackmail - I’m going to give this one as it’s brief but pivotal Gay/lesbian character - no, although one of the local keystone cops thinks the professor must be one Important memory - yes, wrapped up in childhood trauma Random scene in Italian - I watched it ALL in Italian to take advantage of the subtitles so I didn’t wake the missus Ooh ooh music - didn’t discern any at all Death by razor - no Gillette in sight, nor yet a Bic. Childhood trauma - yes Killer’s footsteps - yes A respectable 14 points. Goodish film with unfulfilled pretensions.
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Please take this in the friendly, if contrary, way it’s intended. The Bloodstained Shadow is a pretty entertaining pic with a highly enjoyable soundtrack. I can’t believe anyone who’s seen a few giallo movies would be surprised by the finale.It puts up not one but two Huge red flags that signal the outcome, one of which is an outright spoiler, the other a Christie-ish narrative trope of misdirection. Let’s call them the Giallo Law of Clergy and the Giallo Law of Murderous Effenciency . If any of you armchair detectives want to win at “spot the killer” let me know. Even the most airheaded sap of a goofy inspector could piece it together. Meanwhile I’m going to give the cd a spin.
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If you are a true fan, you pretend you don't know the killer and then act surprised when revealed. Or be like my mum- we put a film on, the credits role, Klaus Kinski's name appears and my mum says ' oh, I bet he's done it'. Where's the fun in that.
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Sure, I’m not out to ruin a movie for anyone. Pointing out the common elements in the genre is what this whole thing is about. Facts are still facts. For example: your mum is right about not trusting Kinski in anything.
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There’s still some craziness to come around, I think. Unpredictability is a strong part of these movies.
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Posted: |
Jun 18, 2023 - 2:56 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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Strip Nude for Your Killer (Andrea Bianchi, 1975) Carlo? The fashion photographer? Yes, I know him - great guy. You want help disposing of the body after a botched abortion, you know who to call. You want to be a model? Just parade in front of him at the swimming pool and he’ll cajole you out of your bikini in a sauna with the old “oops, the camera isn’t working” ploy before you can say “middle-aged Lothario”. Actually, he’s a bit of a … no, an UTTER shit. How Edwige’s character falls for him is probably the most unlikely aspect of this film, which is the sleaziest giallo I’ve seen (repeatedly, on Amazon Prime). Funky music - very much so, by the not very famous Berto Pisano Twist ending - not really, everyone else was dead Witness of murder - yes Striptease - no Killer’s POV - no Man slaps woman - yes, and Carlo, scumbag that he is, loses his temper with Edwige and starts strangling her, intended probably to be a red herring Overloud or inappropriate music - no, actually it was okay Outrageous title - duh! J&B bottle - yes, front and centre in a murder scene and to hand whenever a character needed a pick-me-up Naked woman - yes, at a very early stage, not even counting the opening operating table scene Death by stabbing - several, a bit samey, in fact Red herring - yes, Carlo is such a shit that you want him to be the killer Black-gloved killer - yep, as part of motorcycle gear Goofy police inspector - no, although one of his subordinates is played for laughs, more embarrassing than funny Important picture - yes, amounting to a stabbing list Woman takes bath or shower - not voluntarily (in fact, placed in the bath after dying on the operating table) so that’s a negative Blackmail - technically yes, one or two brief references Gay/lesbian character - yes, one likely male (in the fashion industry? I know, right?) and two lady lovers, who are prone to tiffs and not averse to a male member to get what they want - I did tell you it was sleazy Important memory - not really Random scene in Italian - nope Ooh ooh music - only if “ba-dup-ba” counts, and it does Death by razor - nope, just stab, stab, stab Childhood trauma - no Killer’s footsteps - not that I noticed Unlucky 13 points for this unbecoming film, Edwige’s last giallo as far as I know. She must have become tired of being pawed by her leading men (although I’m wholly unfamiliar with her career in Italian erotica, which may have continued after this. Poor Edwige, having to disrobe ALL THE TIME to get parts, and then not being able to move onto serious roles because of her reputation. I don’t think she’d ever have won as Oscar, but if I had prizes to award for contribution to Italian cinema, I’d give her one.) Also provided an example for Kingsman by closing on a wrong ‘un joke. Not good.
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For example: your mum is right about not trusting Kinski in anything. almost true. She got her eye wipoed on two occasion( that I remember). One was ' And God Said to Cain'. The was an Edgar Wallace, possibly Double Face. I think she was disappointed!
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