Torso (1973)
"I corpi presentano tracce di violenza carnale" (original title)

Someone is strangling coeds in Perugia. The only clue is that the killer owns a red and black scarf, and police are stumped. American exchange student Jane and her friends decide to take a ... See full summary »

Director:

Sergio Martino

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (screenplay), Sergio Martino (screenplay),

Stars:

Suzy Kendall, Tina Aumont, Luc Merenda

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Suzy Kendall	...	Jane
Tina Aumont	...	Daniela
Luc Merenda	...	Roberto
John Richardson	...	Franz
Roberto Bisacco	...	Stefano Vanzi
Ernesto Colli	...	Gianni Tomasso, the scarf vendor
Angela Covello	...	Katia
Carla Brait	...	Ursula
Conchita Airoldi	...	Carol Peterson (as Cristina Airoldi)
Patrizia Adiutori	...	Florence Heineken
Luciano Bartoli	...	Motorcycle guy #1
Gianni Greco	...	Motorcycle guy #2
Luciano De Ambrosis	...	Inspector Martino
Enrico DiMarco	...	Village idiot
Giorgio Dolfin	...	Slim boy in the village

Storyline

Someone is strangling coeds in Perugia. The only clue is that the killer owns a red and black scarf, and police are stumped. American exchange student Jane and her friends decide to take a break from classes by going up to Danielle's uncle's villa in the country. Unfortunately the killer decides to follow, and the women begin suffering a rapid attrition problem.

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Plot Keywords:

killer | friend | villa | student | police | 

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Taglines:

To preserve the surprise ending, no one will be admitted during the last ten minutes.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

8 November 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Torso

Filming Locations:

Corcolle, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During production, none of the cast was told who the killer was. And because of the high amount of red herrings in the film, many of the actresses were convinced it was someone else doing all the murders.

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Goofs

When the guy riding a motorbike flips over and lands in his back the mud, he has mud on his back and chest and face before he lands in the mud.

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Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 2 (1996)

User Reviews

Creepy, somewhat slow-moving, yet still effective giallo

I admire this piece of giallo cinema because of its great style and how director Sergio Martino contrasts the gorgeously beautiful Italian countryside with the bloody activities of a mysterious gloved killer. In this film, the killer is unique because he/she casts a very unique, eerie presence whenever hinted at or briefly shown onscreen, usually wearing some sort of ski mask to hide his/her face. I also like the plot revolving around the red and black scarf, and how it ties in with the identity of the murderer. The story follows a group of young, gorgeous Italian coeds frightened when their friends start dropping like flies at the hands of a brutal slasher, who likes to strangle, stab and fondle the nude bodies of his victims (another sick, effective touch which makes the film all the more nasty). Four of the girls flee to a villa in a small, scenic village to get away from all the atrocities committed on campus. Of course, the killer has followed them there and is set on killing them off one by one. This film is very perverted in ways, the killings are all sexually sadistic in nature, and the motive basically revolves around the dangerous sexual games played by the beautiful coeds. I can't say more without revealing clues which may give away the killer's identity. "Torso" is also loaded with female nudity, as the film starts right off with a wild orgy going on as the credits roll, complete with close up shots of naked breasts. There is also a slight lesbian subplot involving two of the girls, although we don't see anything that graphic at all. No male nudity is present, which is too bad, I was really waiting for one of my fav hot actors, John Richardson, to take something off, but no such luck. Again, this movie is creepily effective, well-acted, and has great photography, and even if you do find it slow-moving, keep with it, as the finale is probably the best part of the film as the heroine has to watch the killer carve up her friends, one of the most unnerving sequences I have ever seen captured on film. The music is pretty good for the most part, but at times it seems like music better suited to a porno flick. And another thing to mention is, the uncut version of this movie doesn't seem to have that much gore at all, I just figured it would since such a big deal was made about it being uncut with all the "grisly violence" finally restored. It still seems like you're watching the R-rated version. Oh, well. This is still a fun movie, especially for those who love Italian horror.