I love Lenzi's gialli offerings, or at least the one's I have experiences! I still need to see KNIFE OF ICE and A QUIET PLACE TO KILL. SPASMO and EYEBALL are some of my more favorite gialli viewings. Two very stylish yet, odd in nature but still very effective in the payoff!
It's been a long time since I first seen his SO SWEET... SO PERVERSE (1969), was that not just recently issued on DVD again??
I absolutely loved Freda's brilliant I VAMPRI! Now, what was the deal with Bava being uncredited for with this again? I know he had something to do with the overall direction, but what's the full story on that again?
Any opinions about this more recent giallo? I've heard some bad things but when I found it dirt cheap on eBay, I couldn't resist the temptation of picking it up. Figured I need to give some of the more recent horrer/thriller stuff a chance too. Still waiting for it to arrive and I'm not quite sure what to expect of it but at least it has a pretty good cast that includes famous transsexual Eva Robins from TENEBRAE (1982) and the good-looking Elisabetta Rocchietti, who has been cropping up in a lot of horror stuff like THE THREE FACES OF TERROR (2004), DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK? (2005) and THE LAST HOUSE IN THE WOODS (2006). Not to mention supporting roles by Florinda Bolkan and Franco Nero! Anyone here seen it?
Interesting looking film out of Italy with Irish/Spanish co-financiers. Directed by Italian SFX man Stefano Bessoni.
In the 1600s, long before the invention of photography, a scientist named Girolamo Fumagalli was obsessed with the idea of reproducing images. He discovered that by killing a victim and removing the victim's eyeballs, it was possible to reproduce on paper the last image imprinted on that person's retinas. He named this technique 'thanatography'. Today, the same kind of gruesome ritual and abominable crime recurs within the walls of an international school of cinema. -imdb.com
Also stars the daughter of Charlie Chapman, Geraldine Chaplin as well as her daughter Oona.
Well, it seems this is yet another Argento flick that is taking a beating in the review department. Even die hard fans are not too pleased with this outing. Anyhow, the PAL R2 DVD is now out via a Polish company that found it important to force the Polish subs!
Looks like this will be getting a UK release first via Arrow Films! I still haven't seen this, it was on my radar during last year's Midnight Madness during the Toronto Film Fest. The disc will be released March 15th..
I'd love to grab this, but for now I'm holding off on the Blu-Ray player for now, too unstable industry right now. Plus, the multi-region player are way too expensive!
(2006/NEW ZEALAND)DIRECTED BY-ROBERT SARKIES/CAST-KARL URBAN, MATTHEW SUNDERLAND, LOIS LAWN, SIMON FERRY, TANDY WRIGHT, PAUL GLOVER and WILLIAM KIRCHER/SOURCE-METRODOME PAL R2 DVD/103 MINS/2006
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(2006/NEW ZEALAND) REVIEW BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-ROBERT SARKIES CAST-KARL URBAN, MATTHEW SUNDERLAND, LOIS LAWN, SIMON FERRY, TANDY WRIGHT, PAUL GLOVER and WILLIAM KIRCHER, SOURCE-METRODOME PAL R2 DVD/103 MINS/2006
Based on the novel ARAMOANA:22 HOURS OF TERROR, written by Bill O’Brien who dives into the true account of David Gray a local who all of sudden began shooting several of his neighbours in the small New Zealand town of Aramoana. Eventually killing 13 and wounding several including children, This event which originally took place on November 12, 1990 is still to this day, the single worst mass murder in New Zealand’s history. Even as the police and emergency arrived on the scene, the terror of this man didn’t stop. As it ensued to David killing the local police chief in his reign of rampage. It wasn’t until the next day when the swat teams were able to track him down; sleeping in a house he had broken into just minutes away from the main crime scenes.
In the beginning stages of our story, director Robert Sarkies does a brilliant job building up the necessary character central to the film’s main storyline. Developing a sense of familiarity with each person in this small town. Displaying ever important details, including neighbour interactions and habits. Though I was finding it very odd that he was a bit weak with the build up of David Gray’s character which I might add was played in a very haunting manner by actor Matthew Sunderland. Seeing that this character would ultimately be the main focus of the storyline, there seemed to not be any really solid indications that his was in fact ready to set off. Though showing his inability to interact with people on a one to one level, and the fact that his growing interest in guns still really didn’t back the character’s growing instabilities. Though this could be due to the “out of the blue” theory of the character.
I found the same problem when the meat of the story was unfolding before our eyes, though the story itself was very solid, the actual trauma factor seemed to be too laid back. There was no real terror when the viewers are subjected to the onslaught of shootings that unfolded. I don’t know about you, but in order to really get the just of what really happened on that day, the terror factor would have to be on high alert in my books. The characters all pretty much came off as if this were something that is natural in their lives, though then again it could be the shock factor that had set in. Either or, I felt that there was more trauma needed to make this section of the film work. Now, this isn’t because I felt that the cast wasn’t good, that is the last thing. Pretty much all involved were very much realistic as with what I mentioned earlier about the characterizations being solid.
All in all, this is still a very much a must see, the account seems to be very accurate and both the story and direction with a few exceptions are very solid and entertaining. Plus, it’s an event that hasn’t been a mainstream news story outside New Zealand. I mean, this is the first I had heard about it, of course that’s not saying a lot seeing it was 18 years ago.
The DVD offering from Metrodome is phenomenal in every way. The main feature is showcased in absolute brilliance with both visual and audio. Special features packed to the gills with everything from a featurette entitled “The Tragedy” which goes into great details on the actual account of the event as well as its effect on the actual making of the film and even the novel itself. There is an extensive look into the making of “OUT OF THE BLUE”, another feature on honouring the victims entitled “Honouring Aramoana”. There’s cast and crew interviews as well as the audition interviews and an audio commentary from both director Robert Sarkies and author Bill O’Brien. This is truly an ultimate edition to a tragedy and raising awareness to horrible event such as this.
OUT OF THE BLUE
Based on the novel ARAMOANA:22 HOURS OF TERROR, written by Bill O’Brien who dives into the true account of David Gray a local who all of sudden began shooting several of his neighbours in the small New Zealand town of Aramoana. Eventually killing 13 and wounding several including children, This event which originally took place on November 12, 1990 is still to this day, the single worst mass murder in New Zealand’s history. Even as the police and emergency arrived on the scene, the terror of this man didn’t stop. As it ensued to David killing the local police chief in his reign of rampage. It wasn’t until the next day when the swat teams were able to track him down; sleeping in a house he had broken into just minutes away from the main crime scenes. 
