Torso

Original Title: I corpi presentano tracce di violenza carnale

AKA: Carnal Violence

Genre: Giallo

Director: Sergio Martino

Year: 1972

Someone is strangling coeds in Perugia. The only clue is that the killer owns a red and black scarf, and police are stumped. American exchange student Jane and her friends decide to take a break from classes by going up to Danielle's uncle's villa in the country. Unfortunately the killer decides to follow, and the women begin suffering a rapid attrition problem. 

This is the first Gialli that I saw and for anybody wanting to get into the genre it's probably a ideal starting point due to its Slasheresque tendencies, it's one of the bloodiest films that the genre has to offer so definitely has crossover appeal. Torso is a particularly sleazy picture, Sergio Martino really went all out with this story which features beautiful women being stalked. Scene after scene of naked women with the camera lingering over their every (often naked) move becomes kind of hilarious. The killers identity is a guessing game and is handled quite well, however the motive for the crimes is as ridiculous as ever.

It is a pretty solid gialli up to the hour mark but it's the final twenty minutes which really bring Torso to life. The scenes in the house of women being mutilated whilst Suzy Kendall looks on is wonderfully done. Then there's a scene with a locked door with Kendall trying to get a key from the other side which is masterful in its suspense.

As time has gone on I've gotten more into Gialli & whilst this is no longer one of my favourites of the genre it still holds up as a very entertaining film with fun characters and a great final third.

 Rating: ★★★½  

Torso: AKA "Saw" 27, the prequel.