Fantastic!

Did you people see the same film I saw?

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

When you recognise a murder weapon which could implicate a hacksaw wielding murderer who's already killed two other people, what do you do? You go to stay in a remote secluded clifftop villa with your friends, that's what! Nothing could go wrong...This is a fantastic slice of giallo directed by Sergio Martino in 1973. It's all here- the sumptuous locales, the amazing insistent music score, the deft and stylish cinematography and direction. But, best of all, there's one of the most disturbing and iconic killers in giallo history (which is really saying something). And not only does he look great but he also kicks ass.This film expertly builds tension with some scenes reminding me of the later Halloween. I wonder if Carpenter had seen this film before making the 1978 classic. I sure as hell hope the makers of the new Halloween film have seen this film (I bet I know the answer to that question but I'll wait until this film is released to either have my hunch confirmed or refuted).An example of this tension within Torso would be the scene in which the lone survivor is in the villa with the killer thinking that there's no one else there. She's locked in her room but decides to try to get the key which is still in the lock on the outside of the door to fall onto a sheet of newspaper which she's slid underneath. This way she can slide the key under the door and try and free herself. But then...you'll have to watch the film to find out what happens. It's a great scene in a great film.When it comes to giallo everyone seems to know the work of Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and Mario Bava and for good reason. But Sergio Martino is an example of another giallo director who doesn't get the attention he deserves. This is a shame as his work is stellar. And Torso is a great 'in' for the horror fan wanting to investigate his work.

"Torso", or to use the more interesting literal translation of the Italian title, "The Bodies Presented Traces of Carnal Violence", is certainly one of the most entertaining gialli ever made. The movie wastes not a scene and is never boring, has style to spare and boasts some fabulous T 'n A.The plot concerns, as they always do, a black gloved killer stalking beautiful, promiscuous women. His choice of murder weapon is a red and black silk scarf, but after killing his victims he likes to gouge their eyes out, and in one scene, he apparently employs a hacksaw to dismember their already dead bodies.One of the movie's four beautiful leads receives a threatening phone call that leads her to believe she has seen the killer, and may be next on the hit list. Her uncle suggests she escapes with her three gal pals to his villa in some remote location. Are you noticing parallels to the yet-unborn slasher film?Aside from the "group of people in remote location so they can't escape the killer" set up, "Torso" also resembles a slasher more than the average giallo in that the mystery aspect of the movie isn't substantial. The red scarf clue is all but forgotten, and the big reveal of the killer's identity at the end, and explanation for his behaviour feels tacked on, as though Sergio Martino only did it because all of the other gialli did.Like most other gialli, and in contrast to the slasher, the violence is really not as graphic as you'd expect, and is instead replaced by overt eroticism. In one scene a man is killed by being repeatedly rammed by a car. We see a shot, an obvious special effect, showing a dummy head crushed between the car's front bumper and a wall. Obvious or not, it's enough to make you wince... but then the movie cuts to a shot of the actor in his death throes, covered in blood, but with his head perfectly in proportion, despite what we just saw!The movie does sex much better than it does violence. This is one of the most overtly sexual of the decent gialli, though in one unfortunate way it does resemble a slasher in this regard: the best looking girl, Tina Aumont, doesn't show any skin!

A bunch of sex crimes happen around a college. Four women decide to get away for a while in this deserted house in the middle of nowhere. They immediately engage in lesbian sex, sunbathe in the nude and skinny dip---while they know there's a killer around! I saw the uncut version of this released on DVD. The violence was considerably cut originally when this came to the US in the early 1970s. Well, even intact, this is lousy. It's full of pointless female nudity and lesbian sex scenes. I realize most giallos have that but this one has an incredible amount! It OPENS with a long lesbian sex sequence which has little bearing on the plot. It's an Italian movie and with the sole exception of Suzy Kendall everyone was dubbed--and pretty badly too. They also can't act--only Kendall is any good (even if she's far too old to be playing a college student). The kill scenes have plenty of blood but the gore scenes are laughably fake. To make matters worse the plot makes next to no sense. There are only two real suspects--and one is made to act so suspicious you know he's not the killer! If you want to see every giallo ever made this is for you. But if u want a horror movie with brains, talent or realistic gore u can skip this one.

Sergio Martino made a lots of movies but he is going to be remember by his contribution with the Italian genre called Giallo. Also he discovered the beautiful Edwene Fenech and worked with great actors like Alberto De Mendoza, Ivan Rassimov and Geroge Hilton.Sadly none of them are in this movie but that's not a bad thing. The production lead was Carlo Ponti the husband of Sofia Loren. And the cast has a couple of international stars. Well in fact only Tina Aumont was the real international star. Suzy Kendall work because she was for her role in the bird with crystal plumage.In a roman university a killer stalks and chopped the eyes of really beautiful girls. Daniela (Tina Aumont) see the killer but she can recognize him or think is a boy called Stefano who is in love with her. She goes with two friends of vacations but the killer follow her. Suzy Kendal play's Daniela best friend who arrive later at Daniela's house.Now i wont give you the surprises but this film has a lot. The last forty minutes of the film are incredible and it was stolen in so many movies but without the same result. That show you how good was Martino directing. The movies is not very gory and the special effects are cheesy but that doesn't matter because the director show a lot of respect to the material and you can see he was having a good time The leads are quite funny in particular Tina Aumont and Suzy Kendall.Many people say this a proto slasher well in part i true. In fact is an slasher but not the first one. Mario Bava was doing to yeas before the first slasher Bay of blood. Still this movies has great scenes of suspense, Great camera-work and know how to play very wellHighly recommended