My Favorite Movies

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, the 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.

Besides being one of the finest Fulci's works, this is also one of the best giallos ever made in Italy. An atypical thriller, located in the warm and sunny rural lands of Southern Italy, which shows how ignorance and superstition can lead to ridicolous prejudices and nonsense acts of extreme violence.
A very impressive, realistic and often provocative film, that leaves you holding your breath till the end. An interesting plot, a gorgeous soundtrack (by Riz Ortolani), some intense scenes and cult actors (Bolkan, Milian, Bouchet, etc.), make this movie a true must see, not only for Fulci fans. See the uncut version (possibly)!

The first work of the Fulci 'Trilogia della Morte' (which also includes 'The Beyond' and 'The House by the Cemetery') is surely the most extreme and disturbing among the three.

A tale of curses and living dead, with Catholic connotations, which takes its inspiration from Lovecraft, Poe and Romero. A cool mix of dark, foggy and claustrophobic atmospheres with some crude, sometimes disgusting, gory effects, that leave no space for imagination: we have heads drilled, brains ripped out, eyes crying blood, bowels vomited out, maggot storms, people buried alive... A feast for the eyes for gore fans!

The story is quite incoherent and without a logic, but it takes a back seat to the creepy, delirious and visionary atmosphere. The amazing cinematography and scenography with some gothic elements, the rough but effective special effects and the gruesome make-up, plus the suggestive score by Fabio Frizzi, make this movie one of the best italian horror cults. Keep in mind that everything was made with a really small budget.

A masterpiece of visionary Horror from the poet of gore Lucio Fulci, and in my opinion the best chapter of the trilogy.
Once again, the story is not one of the most original (witchcraft, gates of hell, ghosts, zombies) and numerous are the references to other authors (Henry James, Lovecraft, Artaud and Argento), but Fulci can astutely mix these elements and bring them to the screen with a personal and original style, creativity and technic.
As often in his movies, the script is not perfect and not much linear, but that is not important since the director prefers to surprise with imagination, macabre atmospheres, surreal images, voices, whispers, faces zoomed and his usual spectacular splatter effects. This time, we have the "pleasure" of watching a man tortured and crucified, bodies dissolved in acid, a head exploded, a killer dog, flesh-eating tarantulas... However, the gross and extreme gore effects combine with the refinement and accuracy of cinematography, sound and direction. The whole is crowned by a magnificent and apocalyptic ending.

MIIKE Takashi is a genial whacko who enjoys torturing psychologically his viewers and this psycho-horror is a proof!