TORSO (I CORPI PRESENTANO TRACCE DI VIOLENCA CARNALE)
Italy, 1973, 94 minutes, Colour.
Suzy Kendall, Tina Aumont, Luc Merenda, John Richardson.
Directed by Sergio Martino.
Torso is a horror mystery thriller, a film about psychosexuality. The setting is Rome, a mysterious killer strangling students – the killer has a red and black scarf. The film focuses on the killer, the murders, the investigation.
The film was directed by Sergio Martino who had a thirty-year career directing rather exploitative and sensationalist films like Island of the Fishmen. However, he also directed An Australian in Rome with Nicole Kidman.
The film is the popular type of spaghetti horror prevalent at this time, especially influenced by the films of Dario Argento.
1. This film as an example of the genre of Italian thrillers, with overtones of sex and violence, and mystery? How good an example?
2. Was it a valuable plot, characterization? Or was it slightly deviant, sick?
3. The film's quality as entertainment? Its values about human life and character? Audience expectations from title and style? Did it exploit its material?
4. How convincing was the plot, characterizations? How contrived were they? Especially the psychological atmosphere, the hints for the killer, the doll flashback and its explanation?
5. The quality of the setting? The credits and the threats and murders? The art atmosphere, world of the students, relationships, sexuality, sordid atmosphere, parties and blackmail, violence? The Italian background and the overseas students?
6. How credible were the murders? The spying of the killer? Strangling? Hacking them to pieces?
7. How well did the film provide a range of suspects? Appropriate clues, for example the scarf, Danny and her memory?
8. The focus of the film on Jane as heroine? How interesting and engaging a heroine? Danny and her girl friends? As victims, characters, exploiters? The relationship between Danny a two friends and their sexuality?
9. The contribution of Stefania and his pursuit of Danny, as a murder suspect, his mad obsession, death? The blackmailer and his being run down? The variety of deaths?
10. The importance of the mountainous setting, the big house, Jane's injury, the preparation for her being threatened?
11. How effective was the day of terror for Jane as she hid in the house? Watch the killer bury the dead, wait for the doctor, try to signal for help etc.?
12. How satisfying was the explanation of why the killings were done? Did it make sense psychologically?
13. The fight between the Doctor and the Professor as an appropriate climax? Going over the cliff?
14. The quality of the scares and the mystery? The values? Was it a worthwhile film?
