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Amuck (1972)

Probably one of the harder to find horror films from Italy, that is actually worth seeking out. I wasn’t expecting too much from this film. I usually go by the idea that when a film has drawn artwork for a cover there is usually not to much substance to the film. And from reading the back of the film it sounds like any other, “girl’s friend is missing, girl searches for friend from last place she was, these people are strange, girl ends up like friend, or something like that.

This however has to be the absolute exception to the rule. The ladies are all beautifully stunning and not a bit shy. The plot twists to the point that you are as uncertain as the heroine what exactly is real and what exactly happened, is happening, very disarming. An intelligent horror/mystery film. Convincing acting all around, suspense, psychological drama, some gore and lots and lots of nudity and sex that just never seems to end. Considered by some as euro-sleeze due to the nudity, and it does fit the catagory easily but I find that if gore or nudity are pertinent to the plot they are welcomed, gratuitous this is not. The seduction scene between Grete (Barbara Bouchet) and Eleanora (Rosalba Neri) will most likely be enblazed in my memory till I die. Hard to explain. The scene is erotica with a twist. The cinematography is great throughout but superb during this scene.

An intelligent story that turns out to be different than I expected and I have watched alot of horror films great and small. Recommended if you want something far different than the down to the last teenager horror flic I was impressed.