Torso (1973) from Arrow - October 30, 2018

[saltysam]

loved this ever since my first exposure to it via the UK Iver Film Services VHS Pre-Cert. Probably going to be around £25 to import but it's worth it.

[blaken123]

Love Torso. I'll probably buy the new transfer even though the BU looks pretty nice despite the scanner noise.

I don't quite understand the complaints about this one being particularly misogynistic. The first half is kind of a typical giallo, but the second half features a great heroine who is very resourceful and intelligent. A little ahead of it's time IMO.

[jlk5844]

Held off upgrading to Blu for years, especially once I saw that Arrow was upgrading many Blue Underground DVDs. Glad I did too, cause there was some issue with either BU's DVD or Blu. Can just rest easy with this, sure to become the definitive edition of the movie. Remember liking it, to this day I believe the only Martino I've seen. Gotta rectify that. I'll hang onto my BU DVD probably for the inside art.

Originally Posted by Scoot79

Hell YEAH!

[Show spoiler]I would have rather had something like these for the cover though.

The cover is a little disappointing cause I was expecting more of a drawn version of those first two covers, which would've been awesome, but I still like the cover Arrow went with. I feel like it could apply to many movies (I dunno, saw Torso once years ago), but I like the brutal simplicity of it, and the color (particularly the red glow behind them). Just would've been sweet to have the killer's mask on there, as it's been a part of so many home video releases.

Excited to revisit this movie!

[leoganzi]

Speaking of artwork, I also don't like the new artwork of Torso, but I think it's better than atrocious Shameless release which is rather 7 year old schmuck material




I just hope they included the original Italian poster for the reverse artwork.

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

• Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Films

So, as in like, not Ritrovata?

[The Great Owl]

Here's my movie content review of Torso that I wrote last year after watching the Blue Underground disc....


College girls at an Italy university are being murdered by a mysterious killer who leaves a red and black scarf at each scene. Jane, a beautiful American student played by Suzy Kendall (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, To Sir, with Love), and three of her sexy co-ed friends decide to take a break from the fray by vacationing at a scenic mountain villa in the countryside. Their getaway takes a turn for the worse, however, when the killer tracks them down.

The 1973 film, Torso, which was directed by Sergio Martino (Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, The Case of the Scorpion's Tail) is one of the finer examples of the Italian giallo genre, thanks to its effective mix of eroticism and nail-biting tension. The mostly dialogue-free final half hour, where a character is trapped inside the villa with the killer, who does not realize at first that she is there, is one of the most intensely claustrophobic cat-and-mouse sequences that I have seen in recent memory.

As with many giallo movies, this one does not shy away from salacious story elements or nudity. Be on the lookout for the amazing Tina Aumont (Modesty Blaise). Patrizia Adiutori, Carla Brait, Angela Covello, and Conchita Airoldi are all quite lovely as well. The attractiveness of the female cast serves the narrative particularly well, since we are given plenty of red herrings in the form of the leering male characters, all of whom could possibly be the sex-crazed murderer. Roberto Bisacco (Modesty Blaise) is effective as a clueless suitor who does not know when to quit stalking an object of his infatuations. Luc Merenda, who plays a country doctor, would later appear as a detective in Eli Roth's 2007 film, Hostel: Part II. (Roth, who is a huge fan of Torso, provides a fun introduction on the Blu-ray.)

Despite its eye-catching title, Torso is not as violent on a visceral level as most horror films these days, but its reputation as such is cemented because the grisly moments let the viewer's imagination do most of the work. The climax, where our protagonist is hiding out of view while the killer does his work with a hacksaw in the villa, is particularly unnerving for this reason. More than anything, however, this movie rides high on a wave of atmosphere. The location settings, especially a dark bridge underpass and a mist-shrouded forest, make for eerie places for certain characters to meet their ends.

The outstanding music score by Guido De Angelis and Maurizio De Angelis adds immensely to this underrated thriller.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by leoganzi

Speaking of artwork, I also don't like the new artwork of Torso, but I think it's better than atrocious Shameless release which is rather 7 year old schmuck material




I just hope they included the original Italian poster for the reverse artwork.

The new art is an absolute masterpiece by comparison, so I can't really complain.

But swapping it around to the original poster art will definitely be my preference.

[rillog]

Now that Arrow re-released Torso is there a chance of them doing Vice of Mrs. Wardh and All Colors of the Dark too?

[leoganzi]

Originally Posted by rillog

Now that Arrow re-released Torso is there a chance of them doing Vice of Mrs. Wardh and All Colors of the Dark too?

Originally Posted by ianungstad

A member of criterionforum.org posted that the recent Martino book from Arrow has a discography section that confirms the forthcoming release of Torso. (US only).

The AGFA who handle theatrical bookings for Arrow was also credited with The Strange Vice of Mrs.Wardh when it screened at the Egyptian theater a few months ago. (Cinematic Void event)

These are all in print from Shameless in the UK. Looks like Arrow had a chance to scoop up the major Martino giallos but for the US only.

Maybe. Hope they can do All the Colours, too

[Eidolon]

some nice news for this new Arrow release. I emailed Arrow about the different version of the film that I have on VHS, and had a reply back today that Arrow have looked into it, and that it'll now be included on the BD via seemless branching for the differences. It's essentially the American verison with a different start and end credits. Good news as all three versions of the film are now included.

[leoganzi]

The uncut Italian version (93 min) is quite enough for me.

[AlexIlDottore]

The day when I receive this, and can then get rid of my BU blu will be a memorable day in my years of collecting. This is one of my favourite gialli, hands down.

[Jt19006]

What is this...the animated comic book version of "Torso". I'd buy this but not if it means having THAT on my shelf. Horribly stupid decision.

[tommynorcal]

Originally Posted by Jt19006

What is this...the animated comic book version of "Torso". I'd buy this but not if it means having THAT on my shelf. Horribly stupid decision.

Ok. Nice story.

[spanky87]

Or you can just use the reversible cover that features the original artwork.

[leoganzi]

Originally Posted by Jt19006

What is this...the animated comic book version of "Torso". I'd buy this but not if it means having THAT on my shelf. Horribly stupid decision.

It's a little ironic though, because Adam Rabalais did a good job on Arrow's What Have They Done to Your Daughters? art which is good, IMO, but Torso is somewhat meh.
Having said that, I still think Rabalais is way better than Chris Malbon and Malbon's arts are beyond all apprehension

[AlexIlDottore]

Diabolik just shipped my order

[AlexIlDottore]

Atrocious cover visibility averted





Gonna check it tonight or this weekend.

[frakking toaster]

Originally Posted by AlexIlDottore

Atrocious cover visibility averted





Gonna check it tonight or this weekend.

I like that they put the English title on the spine finally. I usually keep the ugly artwork facing forward just so I have the English title on the spine.

[babybreese]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

This is his weakest Giallo imo. Not a fan of the cover artwork. But I am curious about the new transfer. All previous releases looked pretty bad.

Could not agree more and yet I know I will be adding this to my Arrow collection....
unless reviews are alarming.

I find this one dull, and one of the dumbest. But what a female cast!

Saw it at the drive in back when, and something about the US ad campaign tickles me...
something has to explain my unnatural tolerance for this late era cash in.