HorrorView is cited for adorning The Black Belly of the Tarantula with the title "Best Giallo Ever Made". Clearly a marketing tactic, which is prominently featured on the US DVD cover released by Blue Underground, this claim should be difficult to swallow by Giallo fans with even a small amount of exposure to Argento, Fulci, and Martino.

While the film does bare some resemblance to Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Case Of The Scorpion's Tail, it seems to lack enough originality to make it memorable (other than Morricone's brilliant but overused themes which easily get stuck in your head).

My biggest gripe with the film is that it bares more resemblance to a Poliziotteschi (Italian crime film) than a Giallo. The main protagonist is a police inspector, not an amateur detective. And this major distinction trickles down into the very straightforward and slow-paced story line.

The murders sequences are void of any major stylistic qualities, and the reveal of the murderer is a bit disjointed as he continues to hover over his current victim and calmly explain the psychological reason for his murder "gimmick" out loud. Once Tellini arrives, the confrontation that ends with what appears to be the killer's death is just plain silly, and the final explanation of the killer's psychological profile seems like an afterthought.

But it's not just me; the Giallo Score reflects this criticism as well:

• The iconic black gloves are replaced with tan surgical gloves
• The protagonist is a professional policeman, not an amateur detective
• There is no accomplice, no mistaken identity, and no definitive list of suspects

The film might have dropped into the 60s had it not been for the fact that Paolo Cavara is credited for another film (Plot of Fear, 1976) that also blurs the lines between Giallo and Poliziotteschi. Since I haven't seen the film yet, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt but I reserve the right to change the score later!

Black Belly does have a few good points with no shortage of attractive women and the aforementioned score by Morricone, but I wouldn't consider this film mandatory viewing for genre enthusiasts, and would recommend skipping it until you've run out of options.