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[The Hunchback]

"Il tuo vizio è una stanza chiusa e solo io ne ho la chiave"
directed by Sergio Martino

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt00 69421/

The title has little to do with the plot, in fact it is a re-telling of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Black Cat" with a Giallo touch (gore, lesbian sex, nudity,suspense, traveling).

Luigi Pistilli stars as an abusive and psychotic husband constantly tormenting his wife and having incestous thoughts of his dead mother. A lover of Pistilli's is brutally murdered and the authorities want to pin the homicide on him, things get interesting when his neice (played by Edwige Fenech) comes to visit and the bodies begin to pile up in Pistilli's own household!!! The totally innocent (as far as the murders go) Pistilli must now hide the bodies in a wall in his wine cellar.

Not at all impressive but entertaining Giallo flick.

Sergio Martino often complained that he stood in the shadow of Dario Argento when it came to Giallo, I can see why this is. Martino's Giallo's are not as fun or inventive as Argento's.


A fun film for the month of october, next I'll be watching Emilio Miraglia's "The red queen kills seven times" (La dama rossa uccide sette volte) and I'll report back on it. In the mean time discuss this one if you have seen it.

[Paul]

I think this is a great film, though I find it troubling when it's referred to as a giallo. I think it's easy to pigeon-whole this flick into the giallo category, as it was directed by Martino, but I think it has more in common with the likes of PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK, Lamberto Bava's MACABRE and Elio Petri's sublime A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY. These are slow-paced character studies that probably owe as much to Polanski as they do Bava and Argento.

[dracucarr]

Sergio Martino often complained that he stood in the shadow of Dario Argento when it came to Giallo, I can see why this is. Martino's Giallo's are not as fun or inventive as Argento's.

I disagree as I have enjoyed many of Martino's films more than some of Argento's. For me when I think of giallo Martino is a huge part of it. As a Fenech fan my main disappointment was her lack of screen time. However, from the film's point of view it is perfectly fine and it has a great lesbo scene  . It is a slow film, but one I really enjoy. Not everything needs to be "Bang! Bang! Boom" all the time and this was a nice change of pace. I love the ending to this aswell.

[death_proof_reg]

I really liked this film, looking forward to a re-watch soon.

[Richard C]

I really liked this film, looking forward to a re-watch soon.

Same here. I enjoyed the film but because I'm playing catch-up with the entire Euro Cult genre I've only seen it the once but it is one title that I will go back to some time down the road (probably when I'm flat broke and can't afford to buy discs anymore  )

[CJ]

I need to give this another watch - but I thoroughly enjoyed it first time round. I think Martino is a fine director with a unique style and I've enjoyed everything of his I've seen so far. Yes, even Big Alligator River!

[Paul]

I need to give this another watch - but I thoroughly enjoyed it first time round. I think Martino is a fine director with a unique style and I've enjoyed everything of his I've seen so far. Yes, even Big Alligator River!

I ,iked this film, too and yet another of MArtino's films that transcends the 'giallio' tag. Welcome to the forum, CJ!

[CJ]

Thanks for the welcome, Comp. 

I think DVD has been great for people like Martino, because it has allowed his work to be re-appraised and to stand in their own right. Martino et al are often overlooked because so much attention is given to Argento and Fulci - and it's only right that those that have so often been in the shadows of this mighty pair should finally be given the praise they deserve.

[Fray G]

I saw this on the big screen last year (just a dvd screening not a film print) and really enjoyed it. It went down well with the decent sized crowd which I was delighted to see had quite a few women and couples in it. Since then I've bought the dvd and can honestly say I think it's the best Martino film i've seen. Even better than Wardh and Torso.

I'd urge anyone who has'nt got the disc yet to buy it up cos it's becoming scarcer, I had two Amazon marketplace orders for it cancelled before getting it from a uk based supplier.

[Jonny]

I'd urge anyone who has'nt got the disc yet to buy it up cos it's becoming scarcer, I had two Amazon marketplace orders for it cancelled before getting it from a uk based supplier.

I'll second that, I've had this on order from DVDPacific for about 6 months now for a friend and it's not looking likely that I'll get it... eBay has a few though... Looks like NoShame have most definately closed down their business in the US for the foreseeable future...

Great film btw, I love Edwige with her short pixie bob hairstyle in this, so sexy... 

[Stephen Grimes]

I'd urge anyone who has'nt got the disc yet to buy it up cos it's becoming scarcer, I had two Amazon marketplace orders for it cancelled before getting it from a uk based supplier.

I'll second that, I've had this on order from DVDPacific for about 6 months now for a friend and it's not looking likely that I'll get it... eBay has a few though... Looks like NoShame have most definately closed down their business in the US for the foreseeable future...

Kinda glad i got most of their stuff now,just need Emergency Squad as an upgrade from my Italian disc.
Saying that Marc posted something in his own forum a month or so ago saying that NoShame were due to release Argento's Doors into Darkness in the US with English subs at some point,anyone heard this?

[Fray G]

Yeah, I bought this at DVDlimited, paid a bit more for it but at least I knew i'd get it quickly. I got in a bit of a mild panic about all the Noshame stuff disappearing from DVDpacific and other sellers and bought a whole bunch of stuff i hadnt caught up with yet. I'd have been pretty sick if when going to get Colt 38 squad and Emergency squad finding they'd all gone. Now the only ones i don't have are stuff i'm not too fussed about.

And yes, Edwige is well cute in this film.

[The Hunchback]

I saw this on the big screen last year (just a dvd screening not a film print) and really enjoyed it.

By any chance was this the screening at the Miami Beach cinematech?

I was their also.

I hosted their spaghetti western month in august 2006.

[Fray G]

I saw this on the big screen last year (just a dvd screening not a film print) and really enjoyed it.

By any chance was this the screening at the Miami Beach cinematech?

I was their also.


I hosted their spaghetti western month in august 2006.

I WISH!

No unfortunately it was in the chillier climes of Edinburgh, the Filmhouse to be specific. It was a short season of about 6 or so italian films shown every thursday. I went to see DVD screenings of this and Milano Calibro 9, and film print showings of Suspiria and Danger:Diabolik. I think the others were Django and Flesh for Frankenstein, could'nt make it to those. I hope the guys who put these on do it again this year, I believe they did it the year before too.

Around the same time I saw the Crazies and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari there too.

[The Hunchback]

I saw this on the big screen last year (just a dvd screening not a film print) and really enjoyed it.

By any chance was this the screening at the Miami Beach cinematech?

I was their also.


I hosted their spaghetti western month in august 2006.

Around the same time I saw the Crazies and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari there too.

Two very dull films if you ask me.

I think you were better off in Edinburgh anyway, in august Miami is an awful place to be in.