A.K.A. Carnal Violence
Prior Viewings: 1
This was the first true giallo film I ever saw, and I can remember not quite knowing what to make of it. In hindsight, it's clear that I lacked a frame of reference. So I was curious to see if a revisit would improve my perception now that I've come to adore this subgenre as much as I do.
The answer, you won't be surprised to discover, was a pretty emphatic yes. All the mystery and horror stuff was appealing to me from the word go, but I was much more equipped to embrace the foreign flavour and general pulpiness this time around. And while I remember thinking that the movie loses a lot of steam once those four college girls take shelter at the villa, this rewatch made me realize that I was likely just being impatient; the third act might be stripped-down and more deliberately-paced, but that's what allows it to be so intimate and suspenseful.
To date, Torso is still the only Sergio Martino movie I've seen, and that really needs to change at some point. Not only is this a great piece of debaucherous entertainment, it's also beautiful to look at, stylishly pieced together, far more efficient than my memory led me to believe, and actually somewhat groundbreaking in its proto-slasher sensibilities.
Grade: A
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