Mabel Zeder (Caltiki)

A splendid supernatural fairy-tale, rich in eerie and gothic atmosphere, with some genuinely creepy moments, fascinating characters and beautiful landscapes. After many years since "La casa dalle finestre che ridono" (1976) and "Zeder" (1983), Pupi Avati finally returns to the horror genre in 1996 with a unique and magical story of esotericism, religion, evil and death that's based on local believes and legends.
Rather slow but visually stunning and perfectly directed, "L'arcano incantatore" is a fine example that horror cinema can often be a very subtle art-form... Not a film for fans of Saw XIV or Halloween XXII, I guess.

'Sans fin'

Claustrophobic journey into the life of a man, whose feelings turn from love to jealousy to madness. Always admire the narrative elegance and the right amount of cynicism that Chabrol uses to tell his stories.

One of the first Italian detective movies ever made. Political thriller but also psychological and surreal drama, it's probably the best in its genre. In a grotesque way, director and writer Elio Petri perfectly portrays the political and social contest in 70's Italy, period of violent civil demonstrations and heavy repression by authorities. At the centre of the movie is a gorgeous Gian Maria Volonté, who plays the f*ckest fascistoid and schizoid policeman ever seen on a screen. His omnipotence delirium is such that, after having committed a crime, intentionally leaves clues everywhere just to prove he's an untouchable citizen above suspicion. Volonté in his most intense and charismatic role! The film is also remarkable for the original screenplay by Petri with Ugo Pirro and the amazing score by Ennio Morricone.

Perhaps Bava's most personal, intense and original film. In spite of a very low budget and limited available means - substantially, an overcrowed car and a road - this is a pearl in his filmography. Dirty, amoral, crude and nihilistic 1974 crime movie, which never fails to involve and surprise, especially considering that it takes place almost entirely inside a moving small car, where a young woman, a man and his sick child are held hostage by a trio of sadistic psychopathic criminals hard to forget (Dottore/ Doc, Bisturi/Blade and Trentadue/Thirtytwo, played respectively by Maurice Poli, Don Backy and George Eastman). 'Cani arrabbiati' is an electrifying and claustrophobic 90 minute ride to Hell, told in real time and soaked in unpredictability, psychological violence, black humour, surreal dialogue, fast pace and increasing tension.