Spasmo (1974)
Genre: Action / Horror
Duration: 94 minuten
Alternative title: The Death Dealer
Country:
Italy
Directed by: Umberto Lenzi
Stars: Robert Hoffmann, Suzy Kendall and Ivan Rassimov
IMDb score:
6,0 (2.530)
Releasedate: 16 February 1974
Spasmo plot
Christian and his girlfriend find a woman while walking on the beach. She is still alive and the next day Christian meets her again. They want to sleep together, but are interrupted by an attacker, who is shot dead by Christian. When the body disappears it all starts to take strange shapes.
Actors and actresses
Christian Bauman
Barbara
Fritz Baumann
Tatum
Luca
Alex
Xenia
Woman in Car
Clorinda
Malcolm
Reviews & comments
perceived
-
- 1836 messages
- 5683 votes
Average.
It had been on my must-see list for some time. Certainly nice to have seen, but if I still hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have missed much. The plot barely managed to captivate me, but there are a few beautiful shots/scenes in it. The soundtrack is pretty okay every now and then. 5/10*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Richard_Voorhees
-
- 2311 messages
- 2135 votes
Last night I finally had the opportunity to watch this Lenzi, and I have to honestly admit that it isn't really my thing. For instance, I was terribly annoyed by the "sudden" events. Right at the start, Christian (Robert Hoffman) dumps his girlfriend for Barbara (Suzy Kendall) far too easily. This duo actually does a relatively good job, because it is mainly the supporting characters (including the man and the woman in the old lighthouse) who don't come across well.
Furthermore, Lenzi also fails to make good use of these changing settings. For instance, there is very little atmosphere in the entire section at the lighthouse, and he makes very little use of the factory.
The subplot with the "dead" dolls only really hits home at the end. The ending, however, is one of the film's strongest parts, leaving you wondering for yourself which of the brothers is ultimately the craziest.
The plot surrounding the brothers remains rather vague and changes at the drop of a hat. At first, you think that Fritz is trying to drive his brother crazy. On top of that, they also accuse each other of the death of their father, and in the end, they both turn out to be insane. Lenzi jumps from one thing to another a bit with this, and with some things, he is simply not clear enough about what his goal actually is. Take, for example, the scene where the brothers go to watch videos from their youth. The scene itself seems to add very little value to the plot and the film as a whole.
A rather muddled giallo that has its moments here and there, but generally remains a bit too vague for me.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2365 messages
- 2119 votes
Intriguing film. The plot focuses on a man with psychological problems, which gives rise to all sorts of ambiguities. What is true and what is not? And then there are those recurring latex dolls. Also typical of a giallo, in which dolls are often used as assets and always good for a mysterious atmosphere.
In later years, Umberto Lenzi was not so pleased with the 'incomprehensible script,' but I think we have seen worse than this. There is certainly a pattern to be found. The music is by Morricone, featuring alternating creepy violins in certain scenes, and there is also a lovely theme, as we have come to expect from him.
All in all, a vintage giallo that the enthusiast can enjoy downing.
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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