Torso (1973)

A string of appalling lust murders shocks the University of Perugia as a sadistic serial killer strangles to death beautiful college girls with a red and black scarf.

Director:

Sergio Martino

Writers:

Sergio Martino (story), Ernesto Gastaldi (screenplay)

Stars:

Suzy Kendall, Tina Aumont, Luc Merenda

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Suzy Kendall	...	Jane
Tina Aumont	...	Daniela Anselmi
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:

black gloved killer | female full frontal nudity | grindhouse film | characters murdered one by one | mutilated after death | 

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Taglines:

WE DARE YOU to keep your eyes open during every terror-saturated scene of "Torso"

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fuzztone guitar instrumental featured in the American theatrical trailer is a song called "Hippy" by Alan Parker.

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Goofs

In the train, the camera operator's arm is reflected in the carriage door. Also, when the man enters the train carriage and closes the door, the camera crew and boom pole are reflected in the glass.

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Quotes

Franz: Death is the keeper of secrets.

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Alternate Versions

The uncut version has been released by Anchor Bay Entertainment in widescreen and runs a couple of minutes longer.

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Connections

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)

User Reviews

a great, very representative giallo

I'm not sure why some of the comments for this film were so unenthusiastic; I usually jump all over a slow horror film, though I don't believe this to be one at all. Anchor Bay's print is great, and the film is beautifully photographed. The scene in the muddy birch forest is alone worth the price of owning this. Sure, the standard giallo plot of a mad killer, driven to kill due to a childhood trauma is no surprise, but that's not really the point is it? This is also not a gorefest, but many great giallos are not. The very essence of giallo, as I understand it, is visual style (and extremely beautiful women) over plot substance, and that certainly defines this film, which sits comfortably in my Italian horror top 15, if not top 10.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

21 March 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Torso

Filming Locations:

Corcolle, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min (BluRay)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1