Torso

DVD Anchor Bay Entertainment
1973, 92 minutes

review by Lee Peterson

A ski-masked killer (who resembles Mexican wrestler El Santo!) is slicing and dicing his way through the girls at an Italian college. When fibers from a red scarf are found under one of the victims' fingernails, Dani (Tina Aumont, from Fellini's Casanova and Rollin's Two Orphan Vampires) wracks her brain trying to remember who she saw wearing such a scarf.
Every time she thinks she has it figured out, her prime suspect winds up dead at the hands of the killer.

When an anonymous phone call warns her to forget what she knows about the scarf, Dani and three of her girlfriends (including Suzy Kendall, of Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Fulci's Aenigma) head up to an isolated villa to hide out.

They soon discover that they are not alone...

Originally released in the U.S. on a double bill with Autopsy (also available on dvd from Anchor Bay), Torso was shorn of several minutes of brutal violence (and some expository scenes). Now available in its completely uncut, 92 minute form, it's essential viewing for any self-respecting Euro-horror fan.

Directed with creepy gusto by Italian veteran Sergio Martino (The Great Alligator , Slave of the Cannibal God ), and co-written by Martino's frequent writing partner Ernesto Gastaldi (The Horrible Dr. Hichcock  and Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory), Torso  may not boast a lot of original ideas, but it definitely delivers the goods (suspenseful stalkings, a high body count...). 

Anchor Bay's 1.85:1 transfer (16x9 enhanced) looks great, albeit a teensy bit grainy during night scenes. Considering it's from 1973, Italian, and probably not high on any film preservationist's list, it's a pretty damn impressive presentation. The Dolby Digital Mono soundtracks (in English and Italian) are also excellent. A couple of scenes (that were cut for the English release) are missing their English soundtrack, so Italian subtitles pop up.

Two trailers (a U.S. release and an international release titled Carnal Violence) are included, but that's it in the extras department. 

If you're tired of the Hollywood bullshit that passes for horror these days (and you are), slice off a slab of this Grade-A Italian Cheese, dripping with the red sauce. Stylish, brutal, and loaded with gore (and lots of nudity for the raincoat crowd), Anchor Bay Entertainment's Torso dvd is one more reason for Euro-sleaze fans to rejoice.
 

Official website:

http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com