(1971/ITALY/SPAIN)
AKA-DER SCHWANZ DES SKORPIONS, LA CODA DELLO SCORPIONE, SCORPION’S TAIL, TAIL OF THE SCORPION.
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER
DIRECTED BY-SERGIO MARTINO
CAST-GEORGE HILTON, ANITA STRINDBERG, ALBERTO DE MENDOZA, IDA GALLI (as EVELYN STEWART), JANINE REYNAUD, LUIGI PISTILLI and TOM FELLEGHY. SOURCE-NO SHAME FILMS R1 NTSC DVD (2005)*When Lisa Baumer discovers that her wealthy husband has just died in a mid-air airplane explosion, she is presented with a million dollar insurance claim as a result. As she collects the money in cash, the insurance company sends out agent Peter Lynch to investigate the case. Lisa is then confronted by her husband’s mistress Lara, who claims that the money is hers and that Lisa killed her husband over the fact she knew he was about to divorce her. Just as Peter gets close to her, she is mysteriously murdered and the money taken. He becomes the central suspect in the police investigation. Enter female news reporter Cleo, who quickly gets involved with Peter on a romantic level, and in turn becomes another player in the twisted web the killer has laid out.
The world in which Sergio Martino has created through his films has always been highly underrated. CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL is no exception to that rule either, and what a damn shame. Like major players of the Italian giallo, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and of course Mario Bava, Martino has always taken the back seat. In a way this is a good thing, a rare diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered. This can also be said for the lack of his films on the shiny format as well. One thing is for sure though, I have been lucky to be one of those who have in fact found and developed a strong liking to many of Martino's films. Of course with the help of his advisories Argento, Bava and Fulci lending a hand. Many of Martino’s contribution’s to the Italian giallo laid ground work for later attempts. Driving the limits that others would not dare or just hadn’t bothered with as of yet. Martino’s homing the use of excessive and very graphic scenes of murder. Yet like Bava and Argento, he was still able to create a personal style and was not afraid to experiment with certain filming techniques. Also many of the actors in which he seemingly worked with on several occasions develop a since of comfort in working under Martino’s guidance. These are all very much present in CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL.
Like his other giallo, TORSO and it’s driving force to expand and mold the giallo boundaries into horror, CASE seems to be the start of this task. Giving a boost in graphic killing department after his previous giallo, NEXT! CASE seems to be Martino’s starting point in homing his torturing situations of human pain in the form of his victims. Killings that not only show blood, but go the distance with excessive methods of inflicting the pain and in most cases death. Where in most cases both Bava and Argento took the Hitchcock way and only led up to that making the viewer imagine what the overall outcome would be, though not true of all. CASE’S gallery of murders include many gut wrenching scenes of killing, mind you gut wrenching for their time, and with some viewers even today. The eye of Lisa Baumer’s (Ida Galli/Evelyn Steward) lover, gouged out with jagged piece of shattered glass. The eye’s innards oozing with the blood, this is certainly one fine example of Martino’s method of captivating one’s attention as the image burns into their memory bank. Though gruesome, one must never forget that the style is there as well. The whole killing scene, the build up to it’s mostly fatal ending.
Continuing on with the eye gauging scene, the build up is sublime, the victim is sitting watching the news as they announce an exclusive on a killing, then they jump to regular programming on American celebrations of Thanksgiving in LA. Everything seems to be working out for both the unexpecting victim and the viewer. Effective build up leading to a brutal series of actions scenes where the victim and the killer struggle. As the two fight, the television announcer blurts out America land of optimisms, a marching band belts out their marching tunes as the killer blinds an hope of the victims ever seeing an optimisms, just as on the television. That is only but a string of gruesome ending to many of this films victims. Most of which meet their maker via the end of a very sharp and pointy blade. The killer has a knack for using the victims neck as a sharpening tool for his choice of killing tool, excepting using blood instead of oil to keep it clean and ever so efficient.
Enough with dwelling on the brutal graphic stuff about CASE, there are plenty of other great reasons that this is one great example of the classic Italian giallo. Another major element that is always synonymous to many of Martino’s efforts and that is the every predominate presence of beauty. There is certainly no shortage of beauty in CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL, leading the pack is the stunning beauty of Swedish bombshell, Anita Strindberg. Strindberg plays Cleo a local news reporter who gets involved with Peter Lynch (George Hilton) who is covering the Lisa Baumer (Ida Galli/Evelyn Steward) insurance case. One is quickly seduced with Strindberg as she captivates not just with her beauty, but with her talent as well. Backing such beauty is the likes of Ida Galli/Evelyn Steward playing Lisa Baumer who is sadly killed in the first few minutes of the film. Reflections of Janet Leigh’s character in Hitchcock’s PSYCHO. Also there is Jess Franco regular Janine Reynaud who plays Lara, Lisa’s husband Kurt’s mistress who seeks what she claims to be hers and not Lisa’s. On a lesser level is the very sexy Spanish actress Annalissa Nardi who plays the girlfriend of Lisa’s lover (Thomas Pico). She has her few minutes of nude fame and makes good use out of it for sure.
Now the rest of the main cast, well I should say the male cast is lead by the ever so popular George Hilton. A Euro-cult heavyweight who brings a solid performance to the table. Playing the part of Peter Lynch, an employee from an insurance outfit investigating $1 million policy in which Lisa Baumer (Galli) has cashed after the death of her husband. He quickly gets involved with both her and the other main character of Cleo (Strindberg). Now the cast gets even stronger with one of my favorite Italian actors, Luigi Pistilli. This guy has played just about everything possible, one of the best character actors for that era and genre. Pistilli plays Detective Stavros who is leading the investigation into the bizarre string of murders that seemingly leave Hilton as the prime suspect.
The story itself that Martino has presented to us is quite strong and very entertaining. Full of action, gut wrenching and slick acting. Full of the usual and unusual red herrings, all of which provide a solid case to the final twist. Building on something I slightly mentioned earlier is Martino’s adventurous cinematography, well experimental would probably best suit this. One scene in particular where the camera is on a sideways angle swinging back and forth between a conversation. Though at first it feels quite awkward, when it settles in you get the just of just way this scene is presented in this manner or at least you think you do. Also mentioned earlier are the many killing scenes that provide climatic actions before the eventual deaths. Not only does this help the scenes for entertainment values, it also tends to hook the viewer more into the overall storyline furthering the enjoyment of the film. Now, along with all the action, gore and sexy femme fatales, there is another strong score incasing the film provided by none other then Bruno Nicolai. Filled with is trademark trumpet squawks and driving guitar fills, overall one of the most important elements to this giallo, as in the casing of many. Though there are just a couple of short falls that are ever so present, but probably wouldn’t bother most viewers, that being the explosion of a model airplane. Sorry, but I had to throw that in as it really is noticeable, but doesn’t disturb the rest of the film to any real problem.
Ok, region 1 fans can soon rejoice, in fact any regional fans can rejoice at this upcoming new No Shame release of this classic Sergio Martino giallo. Many of you who enjoy this film are already equipped with the X-Rated Kult release of this that was released last year will soon want to unload that and pick up the No Shame release for several reasons. Though, I’m not here to bash X-Rated Kult’s releases as they have been a great source for these films and have done a great job. Still after viewing No Shame’s release of THE CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL, I must admit, it’s far more superior in many ways. For one, the No Shame releases picture is far more clearer and vibrant with the proper colors. Also, from what I understand and I’m no expert on this, but the X-Rated release was framed incorrectly, something now I can understand especially after viewing the new No Shame release. It’s presented in a beautiful wide screen aspect of 2.35:1/16:1. The audio in the No Shame release is also quite superior, carrying both the Italian and English dubbed versions. Of course there are removable English subtitles for the Italian audio version as well. Once again after watching the film in but audio versions, the audio is quite clean and very clear, surely a step beyond the X-Rated release.
The added bonus here with the No Shame release is in the extras. Once again like their release of THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS.WARDH, we are treated to a 26 minute featurette entitled CREEPY CRAWL: THE SCORPION’S SHADOW which houses exclusive brand new interviews with director Sergio Martino, producer Luciano Martino, screen writer Ernesto Gastaldi and actor George Hilton. Incredible piece of entertainment that discusses the ins and outs of making THE CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL. Not just that either, as they all discuss personal relationships within the production as well as comparing Martino’s first two gialli (MRS.WARDH and SCORPION’S TAIL). After coming down from that high, well you don’t really get a chance too as we are then served up with a original trailer and a great stills and poster gallery. All of course are presented with optional English subtitles for those like myself who are still trying to learn their Italian. This is surely one of the high lights for many Euro-Cult/gialli fans in 2005 as No Shame is truly on the right path in bringing such titles and doing them total justice.
*-Story aspects of this review also are apart of our review of the X-Rated Kult DVD release.
*-Click here for a Frame and Picture comparison of the two releases. 
STORY/FILM-4/5 PICTURE-5/5 AUDIO-4.5/5 EXTRAS-4/5 OVERALL DVD-4.5/5 Purchase this DVD at X-Ploited Cinema
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