rjstewart

An interesting addition to the Giallo genre. Most commentators have concentrated on the apparent misogyny and gratuitous nudity as well as the unfortunate version with porno inserts (which I haven't seen). I'm not sure about the first criticism and as to the second aspect it's an integral part of Giallo. Why else would most of us sit through badly dubbed plodding dialogue and awful acting except for the occasional glimpse of the unadorned form of Babara Bouchet or Sylvia Koscina? To mind my far more interesting is the political undertone referencing the corruption of the upper classes in 1970s Italy which is in tune with "respectable" movies such as 'Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion' and 'Illustrious Corpses'. I wouldn't want to spoil the movie for those haven't seen it, but there are also definite similarities with later efforts such as 'Dressed to Kill' and 'Seven'.

In the Giallo catalogue, I'd put this up with 'Don't Torture a Duckling'. Not as flashy as Argento, but it has something. My DVD is I think a video transfer. Maybe time for a proper digital version?

This an appalling movie. Let's forget the anti Japanese racism and concentrate on the awful script, bewildered acting (clearly a lot of good actors had absolutely no idea what on earth was going on)and numerous scenes of wholly gratuitous violence and sadism. A ghastly mishmash of "Bridge on the River Kwai", "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Green Berets" without one iota of the talent required to produce at least the first two named movies. It actually makes "Return to the River Kwai" look like a classic.

I watched the first hour on DVD and gave up before I totally lost the will to live. An absolute stinker. No wonder it languished on the shelf for a couple of years before Miramax unloaded it prior to the take over.