The Mad Butcher

The Mad Butcher

Genre: Horror, Black Comedy, Exploitation

Original title: Lo strangolatore di Vienna

AKA: The Strangler of Vienna 

Director: Guido Zurli

Year: 1971

 After being released from a mental hospital, Otto returns to his old job as a butcher. He tries to adjust to his new life, but after a bitter argument with his wife, he accidentally kills her. Fearing he will be sent back to the hospital, he grinds up her body and sells it as sausages. As friends and relatives start asking questions about her disappearance, they too start ending up in the butcher's display case

This Italian & German co-production is a goofy B style exploitation movie which reminded me of a sleazier version of something like Little Shop Of Horrors, with a similar plot to that of Psycho II. It played out as a dark comedy, though the use of the kind of comedic music you'd find in a circus show really didn't work with the films tone. Personally, I'd of liked a much meaner & exploitive picture along the lines of say, William Lustig's Maniac than the campy romp we get here. 

The Mad Butcher stars Victor Buono, a character actor that had appeared in successful films such as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane & Beneath the Planet of the Apes & is pretty well cast to play this kind of goofy larger than life character. To his credit, the little entertainment that the film delivers almost always comes via his performance. Also outside of his acting career he was a highly regarded gourmet chef so was definitely qualified to to play the mad butcher! 

Given the horse meat scandal in the UK right now the subject matter was pretty damn appropriate, the film however remains too dull & repetitive in places with the comedy rarely hitting the sweet spot & editing that leaves a lot to be desired. A decent idea, poorly executed. 

Rating: ★★

Victor Buono preparing tonight's meal