La lunga spiaggia fredda (1971)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Ernesto Gastaldi

Writers:

Alberto Cardone (story)
Ernesto Gastaldi (writer)

Release Date:

6 May 1971 (Italy)

Genre:

Thriller

Cast

Robert Hoffmann	...	Fred
Mara Maryl	...	Jane
Riccardo Salvino	...	Jonathan
Walter Maestosi	...	Harry
Joshua Sinclair	...	Thomas (as Gianni Loffredo)
Claudio Trionfi
Fabian Cevallos	...	Speed

Also Known As:

Death Company (Europe: English title)
The Lonely Violent Beach (International: English title)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:16

Company:

Synthesis Film

Quite peculiar, entangling drama

This rare film from screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi (who wrote the screenplays for quite a bunch of memorable Gialli such as "Perchè Quelle Strane Gocce di Sangue Sul Corpo di Jennifer?" and "Il Tuo Vizio e una Stanza Chiusa e Solo Io ne ho lo Chiave") starts like a typical revenge movie in the tradition of "Deliverance" or "Last House on the Left" (which was made a year after this one, actually). A married couple drive to a lonely house by the sea. It becomes clear very soon that the marriage has the best days behind it. After the first night, the couple gets "visited" by a motorcycle gang consisting of four men. They tie up the husband and two of the bikers rape his wife. After this, the viewer understands that two of the gang are rather philosophical characters (the leader, who is the first rapist, and his best pal), while the other two are the more clichéd violent type that do it mainly for fun. Best thing is that the raped woman falls in love with the leader of the gang. So trouble is brewing not only between the couple and the bikers, but also between husband and wife and within the gang.

This film is a really peculiar surprise: At first, the viewer expects to be watching a film where it's obvious who's "good" and who's "evil". But after a while, the film becomes an interesting and believable psychological drama, in which none of the characters remains flat or superficial. It's a highly entangling movie in which the viewer cares about the characters. This makes it even more remarkable than it already is for its unusual storyline.

Viewers who expect a typical rape and revenge film will most certainly be a little bit disappointed. But people who expect an intriguing drama with interesting characters will be pleasantly surprised. And people who just want to witness a unique movie experience will have a good time with "La Lunga Spiaggia Fredda" anyway. Rating: 7 out of 10.