TORSO (1973)
Director: Sergio Martino
Anchor Bay Entertainment

Originally released in Europe as I CORPI PRESENTANO TRACCE DI VIOLANZA CARNALE (THE BODIES BEAR TRACES OF CARNAL VIOLENCE), this absorbing and sleazy giallo showed up in America in 1975 as TORSO when distributed by Joseph Brenner. Brenner's releasing company trimmed some of the film's potent dialog, gore and nudity, including the highly erotic original opening credit sequence, which was eliminated altogether. Once again, Anchor Bay comes to the rescues with another European horror restoration victory.

The film centers on an Italian University where many of the cast's attractive cuties attend. Two girls are found viciously murdered; one has her chest mutilated after making love in a parked car and the other has her eyes gauged out in the muddy woods after cock-teasing a couple of guys who dually grope her at a love-in. The police discover a scarf?the garment that the killer uses to strangle his victims before marring them?at the scene of the second murder. After the police lecture the students on the grisly happenings, Daniela (Tina Aumont) recognizes the scarf, but she just can't seem to place it. After getting a threatening phone call from the assumed madman, she goes on holiday to her Uncle's giant isolated villa with three other girls.

When they arrive at the villa, it appears that they were tracked down by the killer, who then goes on a rampage of bloodshed. Aumont and two other girls are attacked and subsequently hacksawed up into pieces. The final third of the film has the surviving "good girl" (Suzy Kendall of BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE) trying to outwit the clever killer while suffering a sprained ankle. Kendall is excellent and this acting showcase really demonstrates why she has a cult following.

TORSO is a very entertaining murder mystery/sleaze/Euro trash pic nicely put together in a 92-minute package. Sergio Martino shys away from the fatiguing giallo plot elements that only Mario Bava Dario Argento seem to get away with. Instead, he treats us to a standard, yet very acceptable "killer on the loose" story with about half a dozen suspects, most who are killed off by the third act. When the killer is revealed, his sadistic behavior is tied to a traumatic childhood experience, which is a common giallo ingredient. Martino's film is a visual treat, full of pleasing European locations complimented by striking camera work.

One of the film's best attributes is the nice selection of beautiful women on hand. TORSO makes up what it lacks in terms of plot by granting us unnecessary (but welcomed) nudity. The females are often seen teasing men who gawk and salivate as if they'd just got out of prison. It's this kind of perverse nature that makes this film so enjoyable. An interracial lesbian sequence (with peeping toms and all) is also thrown in for good measure. There are a number of gory slayings (the mutilating of the girls, a head being crushed by an automobile, a throat slashing) that are very effectively exposed as quickly edited shots.

Since TORSO was cut for its original American theatrical release, some of its English dialog is either lost or never existed. Anchor Bay alleviates this problem with English subtitles over several brief scenes that only contain the Italian language tracks. Anchor Bay also cleverly inserted a title card that reads "Torso" over the original Italian title in the credits. Two long trailers are included; the American one which over emphases hard guitar feedback in favor of Maurizio De Angelis' seductive score while luring theater patrons with "Now, from Carlo Ponti, the man who brought you WAR AND PEACE and DR. ZHIVAGO," and a trippy Euro trailer under the title "Carnal Violence."

TORSO is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and it is 16x9 enhanced. There is also an optional Italian language track, viewable with English subtitles. The image is clear and distortion free, with near perfect source material. The colors are very solid (this is a very colorful film) and vibrant with minimal grain in a couple of dark outdoor scenes. The Dolby Digital mono sound is also clear and audible. Another winner from Anchor Bay. (George R. Reis)

 

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