Torso [1974] [DVD]

A. Griffiths

at 12:11 pm

Review by A. Griffiths for Torso [1974] [DVD]
Rating: (3 / 5)
Glad to see there is some agreement in the reviews here of Shameless’ release of “Torso”…”Where Whores Meet Saws”? Come on guys, treat the films you release (and the people who buy them) some some crumb of respect. I honestly don’t want a copy of this film on my shelf dressed up like this…I have the R1 Anchor Bay version and I wouldn’t swap it for this.

For anyone that doesn’t know, “Torso” is a mid 1970’s Italian giallo-type horror thriller that tells the tale of a group of girls being stalked and slaughered by a masked killer. OK, so that synopsis gives away the fact that the film is somewhat catering for the gore market, but it does have a certain amount of style that many other slashers don’t have. Sadly, it does not make much sense in places, and the “giallo” elements are poorly implemented (some rubbish about what colour scarf someone was wearing is a very weak attempt to add mystery). But what does work is the central device of getting the group of gilrs holed up in a remote villa at the mercy of the killer. The standout scene for me is the one where heroine Suzy Kendall has to hide in a closet while the killer is dismembering the girls he has just murdered and all she can do is watch in horrified silence and try not to scream lest he realises she is actully in the room – a great scene!

The acting is mostly good, the girls are beautiful, and there is some suspense as the survivors try and escape from the house. The gore is a bit shoddy, effects are rubbery and very cheaply done, but they still have impact.

Shameless need to have a re-think of their marketing of this stuff. They’ve done the same thing with “Killer Nun” (Father, I’ve Been a Murderous Slut!), the fairly serious “Flavia the Heretic” (Flay Me Baby One More Time!) and “Night Train Murders” (Whore Aboard!). What’s with the “whore” insults? None of the victims in these films are prostitutes or even promiscuous women! Using this type of tagline is marketing the films at naughty 6th formers out for a giggle…as I said, there is an audience for cult 70’s shockers like this, and I for one am not impressed.

Film – 4 stars

Shameless – 2 stars – Total of 3 for this release

Mr. G. Bywater

at 12:26 pm

Review by Mr. G. Bywater for Torso [1974] [DVD]
Rating: (4 / 5)
Finally Torso gets a uk release, which means all those who dont wanna fork out £40 for the region 1 can get it at a resonable price! This is one of those Italian horror classics thats actually worth the wait. Not as well put together as argento or fulci, but packed with really great jazz tinged music and some totally unforgetable scenes, mainly the beautifully shot murder in the woods and the final showdown in the house with Suzy Kendall(of bird with the crystal plumage fame) and the masked killer. Also torso contains some truly original ideas and cinematography. If you like horror from this genre then you should check this one out. Ignore the awful uk dvd cover, thats just to be expected, oh and dont expect too much gore, its not actually that bloody. Almost a classic. Just a shame the final scene lets the pace down a bit. Enjoy.

James Morton

at 1:35 pm

Review by James Morton for Torso [1974] [DVD]
Rating: (5 / 5)
Re: A. Griffiths “Adrian

Come on, Shameless release dvds with corny descriptioms. So what?

I used to have the R1 Anchor Bay dvd. But I sold it for the R2 Shamesless dvd because it’s the best dvd yet!

The beginnning is the correct one, unlike the Anchor Bay and there are others but don’t always have the occasional subtitles for the Italian language, which were never dubbed.

Again, unlike the great Shamesless dvd.