Almost Human (1974)

A small-time homicidal maniac kidnaps the daughter of a rich man, prompting a hardened detective to work outside the law to pursue him.

Director:

Umberto Lenzi

Writer:

Ernesto Gastaldi (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Tomas Milian, Henry Silva, Laura Belli

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tomas Milian	...	Giulio Sacchi
Henry Silva	...	Commissario Walter Grandi
Laura Belli	...	Marilù Porrino / Mary Lou Porrino
Gino Santercole	...	Vittorio
Mario Piave	...	Grandi's Assistant
Luciano Catenacci	...	Ugo Majone
Pippo Starnazza	...	Papà
Lorenzo Piani	...	Gianni - Marilù's Boyfriend
Joris Muzio	...	Giulio's Lawyer (as Muzio Joris)
Rosita Torosh	...	Marta
Franco Ferrari	...	Brambilla
Francesco D'Adda	...	Romano
Annie Carol Edel	...	Marta's friend (as Annie Edel)
Giuseppe Castellano	...	Police Inspector with glasses
Tom Felleghy	...	Judge Rossi

Storyline

Guilio Sacchi, an underworld leader in crime, is about to rise above the rank of mafia hit-man to the most savage killer in Milan. He kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy business man, planning to live a life of luxury with the ransom he collects. In the course of obtaining the money, Guilio finds it necessary to mercilessly slaughter anyone who gets in his way as the city's death toll increases by the minute. Walter Grandi is a frustrated police chief who's seen too many innocent people die by Guilio's hands. Determined to exterminate Guilio and his men, Grandi attempts to convict the vicious criminal only to realize he can never obtain the necessary proof. Finally, Grandi must transgress the rules of his profession to stop Sacchi's ruthless reign of terror.

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Plot Keywords:

rape | murder of a child | murder of a police officer | shooting a police officer | serial rape | 

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Taglines:

Not since PSYCHO, CLOCKWORK ORANGE and DEATHWISH has there been a motion picture that will force you to sit through such stark brutality and moral abuse. You will be fascinated and spellbound by the bizarre terror of a man without a heart... without a soul... without a conscience.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

14 November 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Death Dealer

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dania Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marc Porel was originally offered the role of Giulio Sacchi. Director Umberto Lenzi had a meeting with him and found him to be "unreliable from both a human and professional point of view." Lenzi told the producer "It's him or me." The producer asked Lenzi if Tomas Milian was OK. Milian's conditions were reasonable so he got the part.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Box: Christmas Evil (2011)

User Reviews

Stunningly nasty hostage thriller by Umberto Lenzi

ALMOST HUMAN (Umberto Lenzi - Italy 1974.

I had missed out far too long on Umberto Lenzi's best known crime flick, which is hands down one of the best poliziotesschi I've seen so far, almost on par with the best of Fernando Di Leo's work, together with Lenzi one of the more prolific directors within the genre. Whilst generally acknowledged to be one of the better Italian crime flicks, Lenzi's somewhat ham-fisted approach to his gialli, had made me a little reluctant to catch up with any of his other work. Although Lenzi's own VIOLENT NAPLES is also a well-made, highly effective genre entry, this one comes close to beating out that one when it comes to sheer brutality and an almost unbelievable barrage of nasty violence.

A rarity in most Italian crime thrillers, this film benefits enormously from an intriguing and woefully ambivalent central character, played with tremendous vigour by Tomas Milian, who plays Guillio Sacchi, a violent low life scumbag with no regard for human life at all and with a real penchant for torture and rape. The other side of the law is represented by stone-faced Henry Silva, who switches to playing a cop this time, instead of his usual turn as the calculating crime kingpin. The story by Ernesto Gastaldi is simplicity itself and doesn't take all kinds of distracting side-roads that make many other genre efforts so forgettable in that department. Anyway, if you're still in doubt about the merits of Italo-crime flicks, watch this one. An intriguing story, Tomas Milian in a great role and Ennio Morricone contributes another impressive soundtrack what must be one of his most recognizable scores this side from Sergio Leone. I keep wondering if the members of the Academy, who recently honoured Morricone with the honorary Oscar, had any idea what kind of films the maestro generally got involved in.

Camera Obscura --- 9/10