Not a bad pickup if you want to re-buy some of your favorite movies in blu-ray!
Torso (1973)
Directed By: Sergio Martino (The Smile of the Fox)
Where to get it: Blue Underground
The Prologue
Torso is a film that I think you get a little more from each and every single time you watch it. The rampage of a sexual deviant. One who does some pretty graphic things that are made even more memorable by the way they are pulled off in the film. Of course, there are some rather funny moments in the film, but what films from this time and of this genre didn’t have some awkwardly funny moments? Torso, is perhaps one of the more memorable ones of that time, surviving all these years to become a cult hit. Everyone was excited when the then out of print film went back into print with a DVD release from Blue Underground, and I’m sure more than a few people were excited when the film was re-released in a Blu-ray format from Blue Underground on September 27th of this year.
The Movie
A series of sex murders shock a college campus, and four beautiful young girlfriends head for the safety of an isolated country villa. But as they succumb to their own erotic desires, their weekend of pleasure becomes a vacation to dismember at the hands – and blade – of the lecherous maniac. Directed by Sergio Martino (MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD) and starring Suzy Kendall (THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE) and Tina Aumont (SALON KITTY), this Euro Horror chiller was originally released in America with much of its controversial violence removed by censors. Now freshly transferred in thrilling High Definition from the original negative, TORSO is presented in both its Uncensored English Version and Full-Length Italian Director’s Cut for the first time ever!
One thing you’ll notice about this movie is everyone is either naked or looking suspicious! Well no, let me go into detail a little better, if you are a male in this movie you are a total creeper AND looking suspicious at all times. If you’re female you are usually naked or acting all snobby..unless you’re the one American chick in the bunch, then you don’t get naked at all!..Guess who probably ends up lasting the longest?? Oh and do you want a fun drinking game while watching? Take a shot every time someone says “Chow”. I know this is a dubbed movie from 1973 but come on now people! Give me a hello or a goodbye at some point, don’t just say chow! Regardless, and all jokes aside, red herrings are all around in this movie. And to the film’s credit, you never really know until you finally know for sure.
Another really awesome thing about the movie is the killer, who is in a simple ski-mask (full head one). He comes across as pretty crazy and cool looking. And even if at times it seems as if his killing ways are a bit limited (a lot of choking and cutting), you should respect this film for being one of the forerunners to the whole “Slasher” group of horror none the less. But all that being said, the movie does tend to run just a bit slow, perhaps too slow for many of you out there. But that’s not saying the movie is all bad because it isn’t. It just seems to drag a little too long during it’s middle portion. But, that’s all setting us up for a pretty cool ending.
If you’ve been patient (and if you plan on watching a Giallo style film you should be), the last act of the film does pickup a whole lot. Little is even said as this all comes to a head, and what you are left with is full on suspense and a lot of drama. And yes, we even get to see that trusty handsaw from the cover of the movie come into play. This is of course when all your questions are answered, motivation is reveled, and we get an ending that I feel I pretty damn satisfying, if I do say so myself. Maybe in reality, Torso is a bit more of a thriller than it is a horror film. But it’s still got some great moments and is a film worth watching more than once..Even if to me it’s a bit slow.
The Conclusion
This being the blu-ray review, let me end this by giving you some details. It’s a really old film, so some scenes look better than others. There is some frozen grain on the screen that is noticeable at times, but then again you have scenes where it really does look awesome. So, that being said, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but I think the positives are greater than the negatives of this 1080p upgrade of the film. And still, it’s Torso. Slow, but a lot of fun and well worth seeing.
The Rating (6/10)
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