[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

La tarentule au ventre noir

Original title: La tarantola dal ventre nero
  • 1971
  • 16
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
La tarentule au ventre noir (1971)
A series of victims are paralyzed while having their bellies ripped open, much in the same way tarantulas are killed by the black wasp. The victims all seem to have a connection with a spa.
Play trailer1:57
1 Video
89 Photos
GialloPsychological ThrillerSlasher HorrorHorrorMysteryThriller

An inspector investigates a string of murders, which are committed by paralyzing the victims before eviscerating them - the same way a wasp kills a tarantula - and are connected to a spa.An inspector investigates a string of murders, which are committed by paralyzing the victims before eviscerating them - the same way a wasp kills a tarantula - and are connected to a spa.An inspector investigates a string of murders, which are committed by paralyzing the victims before eviscerating them - the same way a wasp kills a tarantula - and are connected to a spa.

  • Director
    • Paolo Cavara
  • Writers
    • Lucile Laks
    • Marcello Danon
  • Stars
    • Giancarlo Giannini
    • Claudine Auger
    • Barbara Bouchet
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    3.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paolo Cavara
    • Writers
      • Lucile Laks
      • Marcello Danon
    • Stars
      • Giancarlo Giannini
      • Claudine Auger
      • Barbara Bouchet
    • 59User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Trailer

    Photos89

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 84
    View Poster

    Top cast24

    Edit
    Giancarlo Giannini
    Giancarlo Giannini
    • Inspector Tellini
    Claudine Auger
    Claudine Auger
    • Laura
    Barbara Bouchet
    Barbara Bouchet
    • Maria Zani
    Rossella Falk
    Rossella Falk
    • Franca Valentino
    Silvano Tranquilli
    Silvano Tranquilli
    • Paolo Zani
    Annabella Incontrera
    Annabella Incontrera
    • Mirta Ricci
    Ezio Marano
    • Masseur
    Barbara Bach
    Barbara Bach
    • Jenny
    Stefania Sandrelli
    Stefania Sandrelli
    • Anna Tellini
    Giancarlo Prete
    Giancarlo Prete
    • Mario
    Anna Saia
    • Maria's Friend
    Eugene Walter
    • Ginetto - Waiter
    • (as Walter Eugene)
    Nino Vingelli
    Nino Vingelli
    • Inspector Di Giacomo
    Daniele Dublino
    Daniele Dublino
    • Entomologist
    Giuseppe Fortis
    • Psychiatrist
    Guerrino Crivello
    • Informer
    Fulvio Mingozzi
    • Surgeon
    Giorgio Dolfin
    • Policeman
    • Director
      • Paolo Cavara
    • Writers
      • Lucile Laks
      • Marcello Danon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews59

    6.33.8K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7ferbs54

    A Unique And Exciting Giallo Experience

    In the 1971 Italian giallo thriller "The Black Belly of the Tarantula," we meet a very unusual policeman, Inspector Tellini. He is unusual, insofar as these gialli are concerned, because he's unsure of himself, not certain if he should stay with his job, and makes many mistakes. Then again, his adversary here is a bit unusual, too: a killer who paralyzes his victims with an acupuncturist's needle in the back of the neck before ever so slowly (and excruciatingly...for this viewer, anyway) slicing their abdomens open. For the life of me, I could not figure out where this picture was headed or what it had on its mind; forget about figuring out the identity of the killer! Thus, I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, and was pleased when everything did congeal, plotwise, at the end. And there ARE many things to enjoy here. Tellini is played by Giancarlo Giannini, a year before he would commence a string of some half dozen hits with director Lina Wertmuller that would catapult him to international stardom. He is as fine an actor as has ever appeared in a giallo film, and he is here surrounded by some truly gorgeous women, including no less than three former/future Bond girls: Barbara Bouchet (whose exposed, superperky buttocks automatically earn this film 5 stars!), Claudine "Domino" Auger and Barbara Bach, here looking younger than I've ever seen her. Other things to enjoy: a creepy, arrhythmic, discordant score by the great Ennio Morricone, flashy direction by Paolo Cavara, some good action scenes (I love that three-way rooftop chase) and, like I mentioned, a meaty story to sink your mental teeth into. Not to mention those grisly murders! Don't believe the Maltin book, which gives a paltry 1 1/2 stars to the cut, 88-minute version of this film. Check out this fine-looking, uncut DVD from Blue Underground, with excellent subtitles and extras, for a unique and exciting giallo experience.
    7Bunuel1976

    The Black Belly Of The Tarantula (Paolo Cavara, 1971) ***

    From the recent spate of giallo releases via the Blue Underground label, this was the one I was most looking forward to; still, now that I've watched the film, the proclamation on the DVD sleeve of its being "The Best Giallo Ever Made" is an exaggeration - as it's not quite in the same league as the best of Mario Bava, Dario Argento, or even Lucio Fulci!

    Despite being made by people not usually associated with the sub-genre (director Cavara had started out in "Mondo" documentaries!), most of the requisite elements are present - and this, I have to say, is its major weakness: though the killer's modus operandi here is undeniably original and particularly vicious, the settings, (mostly irrelevant) plot complications and the unconvincing explanation at the end are all-too-typical, thus making the whole somewhat predictable (down to the identity of the murderer!), if never less than enjoyable and occasionally exciting (the rooftop chase scene above all). Still, as shot by Marcello Gatti, the film is stylish enough (even if the technique isn't really pushed to the limit as in, say, the films of Argento) and, in any case, it has two major assets in the performance of Giancarlo Giannini (as bewildered a giallo protagonist as one can get though, for once, he is a cop and a fairly intelligent, albeit disillusioned, one at that) and a typically unforgettable, indeed irresistible soundtrack courtesy of the tireless and ever-inspired Ennio Morricone.

    One can't have a giallo without the presence of a bevy of beauties - most of whom get to shed their clothes and are soon shown on the receiving end of the killer's paralyzing poison-tipped needle: Barbara Bouchet (appearing, all-too-briefly, as the first victim in one of the most effortlessly erotic openings to any film!), Barbara Bach and Stefania Sandrelli (who, alas, is too often left by the wayside - though she does share a love scene with Giannini - and whose voice, as far as I can tell, was dubbed even in the Italian version!). The notable cast also features Claudine Auger, Silvano Tranquilli, Rossella Falk and Eugene Walter (as a patronizing gay waiter, whose vaguely androgynous features were later utilized to startling effect in another solid giallo, Pupi Avati's THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS [1976]). Trivia note: I got to see Giannini, Sandrelli and Bouchet at the 2004 Venice Film Festival (the latter on more than one occasion, since she was a guest of honor during the Italian B-movie retrospective!).
    6ma-cortes

    Intriguing and suspenseful Giallo full of grisly killings, red herrings, twists and turns

    La tarantula dal ventre nero is a nice Giallo dealing with a a series of victims being paralyzed by injecting a poison and then their corpses ripped open while they still alive. Inspector Tellini, Giancarlo Giannini, investigates the murder of a nymphoniac : Barbara Bouchet, then other astonishing series crimes are carried out much in the same as tarantulas are killed by the black wasp. There are various suspect people : a husband and insurance broker as prime suspect : Silvano Tranquilli, a drug dealer, a lover, a massage parlor owner, a blind person, a saleswoman and the clues lead to a sauna. With the needles dipped in deadly venom the victims are paralyzed, so they must lie awake and watch themselves die!

    Decent Gialli with well-shot heinous murders , thrills, chills, red herrings, and suspense. This intrigue film contains usual Giallo ingredients : a killer with gloves, barroque style, unsettling and disturbing interiors and sadistic and ritualized murders. Here the main interest resides on finding out the murderer and to see the surprising victims being paralyzed by accupunture needles with deadly venom introduced in their necks and bellies being ripped open with a knife .This is one of several Gialli regarding an animal in the script and its title similar to other Dario Argento films as The bird with crystal plumage, 4 mosche develluto grigio, The cat of 9 tails or La coda dello Scorpione by Sergio Martino. Here stands out some notorious Italian actresses as Stefania Sandrelli, Annabella Incontrera, Rosella Falk and Bond GIrls : 3 young beauties as Barbara Bach who married Ringo Starr and played The Spy who loved me, Barbara Bouchet of Casino Royale and the recently deceased Claudine Auger of Thunderball.

    Stirring and haunting musical score by prolific Ennio Morricone in the Seventies style, including voicalists exhaling mysterious sounds. As well as colorful and brilliant cinematography by Marcello Gatti. The picture was professionally directed by Paolo Cavara. He was a good filmmaker who made a few films until his early death at 56 . At his beginning he directed Mondo films as La donna nel mondo, 1962. Then he directed all kinds of genres as comedy, terror, thriller, Spaghetti Western and mystery, such as La Locandiera, Virilita, The Ravina, Plot of fear and Johnny Ears and Deaf. Rating 6/10. Acceptable and passable Giallu.
    Dethcharm

    Serial Acupuncturist...

    After an opening sequence featuring a beautiful woman enjoying a lovely massage, BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA finds the woman and her husband fighting over her having an affair and subsequent blackmail. This leads to a rubber-gloved, mask-wearing murderer using a unique method to dispatch the unwary, unfaithful wife.

    Inspector Tellini (Giancarlo Giannini) suspects the husband, that is, until more, identical murders follow. As Tellini delves deeper into the case, he finds himself the target of the maniac he's trying to catch.

    Stylish and suspenseful, this is a classic giallo from the genre's high point. Giannini's character is more human than the typical cop role. He plays a man ready to chuck his whole career, just as the vicious killer gets going, making Tellini more believable.

    Co-stars Barbara Bach as the unfortunate Jenny...
    jlabine

    I Find This Giallo Refreshinly Special!

    My God! The opening scene alone is worth the price of admission! Barbara Bouchet being given a nude body massage while Ennio Morricone's score (hightened by Edda Del Orso's seductive vocals) explores our aural senses is nearly the best opening I've ever seen... period! Paolo Cavara's brilliant Giallo "The Black Belly Of The Tarantula" is definately special. The film contains a beautiful (Euro Babe) cast, that would please James Bond afficianados everywhere. It contains three Bond Girls in one film! The wonderful Claudine Auger ("Thunderball"), Barbara Bouchet ("Casino Royale"), and Barbara Bach ("The Spy Who Loved Me"), all lending shady perversity to the proceedings. The title refers to the sadistic means in which a killer is performing on his prey. An acupuncture needle is inflamed with a paralysing poison that the killer inserts into the neck of his victim (realistically, this would probably kill someone, but hey... this is an Italian B Movie!!) thus insuring that the victim is paralysed yet concience while the killer tears open their belly with a knife (eehhh...hella creepy!). The story primarily surrounds the investigation by Inspector Tellini (well acted by Giancarlo Giannini) of the murder of Maria Zani (Barbara Bouchet) who was being blackmailed before her death. Other murders follow, as the Inspector's trail leads to a Fashion Boutique, a Science Laboratory, and then a Health Spa, which are all linked to drug traffiking and sexual deviant politics. Like "What Are Those Strange Drops Of Blood Doing On Jennifer's Body" this film as well could be a kind of prototype Giallo film. If you are familiar with the genre, you can only laugh at the way the victim always says to the Inspector "I can't talk right now... but I think I know who the killer is. Come back later (or tomorrow), and I'll tell you. (another equally laughable sentence is: "I just want to check something out, but I'll meet you later!) This line is usually a recipe to get yourself gutted and tortured in the most painful of ways. Also, like "What Are Those..." this film again has the theme of moral avenger (quite often this theme is linked with something resembling impotence... c'mon you got to laugh at that!) that strikes out on the poor girls with viciousness. I'm still trying to sort out if this is somehow linked to the cynicism surrounding Catholicism in Italy? But the killer's use of fetishistic surgical gloves only insures that this is pure Euro-Trash at it's best.

    Giancarlo Giannini's Inspector Tellini is a slightly different breed of cop. The film interestingly delves further (then most Gialli) into the relationship of him and his wife Anna (played by the beautiful Stefania Sandrelli), and the moodiness surrounding his job. He neurotically says "I just don't think I can do this anymore. I want to quit." (echoing my own displays of verbal discontent in the work world, as my girlfriend pointed out) And in the end when Inspector Tellini loses his cool, as the killer gets closer to getting to his wife!

    This is a great little Giallo, which unfortunately is a tad hard to find in America. But I nevertheless highly recommend it to those who love weird and twisted little masterpieces that come from a country of machisimo mentality. And the music score is to die for!!!!

    More like this

    La queue du scorpion
    6.7
    La queue du scorpion
    La dame rouge tua 7 fois
    6.5
    La dame rouge tua 7 fois
    Les rendez-vous de Satan
    6.4
    Les rendez-vous de Satan
    Le Tueur à l'orchidée
    6.3
    Le Tueur à l'orchidée
    Jour maléfique
    6.6
    Jour maléfique
    Nuits d'amour et d'épouvante
    6.5
    Nuits d'amour et d'épouvante
    Jeux particuliers
    6.9
    Jeux particuliers
    L'étrange vice de Madame Wardh
    6.9
    L'étrange vice de Madame Wardh
    Photo interdite d'une bourgeoise
    6.2
    Photo interdite d'une bourgeoise
    Ton vice est une chambre close dont moi seul ai la clé
    6.6
    Ton vice est une chambre close dont moi seul ai la clé
    La mort caresse à minuit
    6.3
    La mort caresse à minuit
    Une folle envie d'aimer
    6.0
    Une folle envie d'aimer

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Three Bond girls appeared in this film. They were 1. Claudine Auger, who had the female lead in Opération Tonnerre (1965). 2. Barbara Bach, who went on to have the female lead in L'Espion qui m'aimait (1977). 3. Barbara Bouchet, who appeared in Casino Royale (1967). The first two appeared in Eon Bond movies, while the third appeared in a non Eon Bond movie which was a spoof.
    • Goofs
      The scientist who is arrested for drug smuggling refers to the tarantula as an insect. Spiders have 8 legs and belong to the class of arachnids. No scientist would make such an error.
    • Quotes

      Inspector Tellini: So, to sum it up: Crime victim number one--a nymphomaniac.

    • Connections
      Featured in Celluloid Bloodbath: More Prevues from Hell (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Morning
      Written by Gianni Marchetti

      Performed by Gianni Davoli e il suo complesso

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ13

    • How long is Black Belly of the Tarantula?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 19, 1972 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Black Belly of the Tarantula
    • Filming locations
      • Roma, Lazio, Italy(location)
    • Production companies
      • Da.Ma. Cinematografica
      • Production Artistique et Cinématographique (PAC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    La tarentule au ventre noir (1971)
    Top Gap
    By what name was La tarentule au ventre noir (1971) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.