: Amuck
: Alla ricerca del piacere
: 1972
: Teo Usuelli
: IMDB
: 71
Recommedation: A Worthwhile Deviation
Breaks some important rules and comes out on top as a result.
Breaks some important rules and comes out on top as a result.
WARNING: Spoilers Below
score analysis
For the longest time the I have bounced back and forth between Edwige Fenech and Barbara Bouchet as my favorite Giallo queen, but Silvio Amadio's sexy thriller Amuck! may have just pushed Bouchet over the top for me. If you're a fan of this blonde Bond bombshell Amuck! will satisfy your fix more than any film in the genre.
Bouchet's character Greta is definitely the star here. She is practically in every scene with double digit wardrobe changes including several mini-skirts, nightgowns and a white bikini that will have you lunging for the pause button! Oh, and let's not forget the (not one but) TWO slow motion lesbian make-out scenes.
But wait, there's more going on here than just constant Bouchet eye candy right?
Hello...? Is this thing on...?
Seriously, Amuck! is a pretty interesting thriller which, while it might suffer at times from slow pacing (again here's where Bouchet's screen time more than compensates), conveys an overall spooky and threatening atmosphere thanks to the classic Venetian setting and the performances of Farley Granger and Rosalba Neri.
Despite having very little to do with the typical black-gloved killer and extravagant murder sequences, Amuck! did well on the Giallo Score, racking up points for each of the three categories. Bouchet fills the dual role of amateur detective and damsel in distress quite effectively and the Beauty and the Beast inspired ending is a nice touch.
The only real problem with this film is that it has been robbed of a proper DVD or Blu release for quite a long time. The best known copy of the film in all its uncut glory is a pan and scan VHS transfer. As of this writing two companies have listed the film for Blu release in 2016. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for sure..
score breakdown
Staples : 45/60
Italian Director
10 points
Hidden Identity
10 points
Ameteur Detective
5 points
Classic Period (1970 - 1975)
5 points
Motivation: Blackmail/Gain
5 points
Director > 1
5 points
Standards : 21/30
Flashback Revelation
3 points
Italian Location
3 points
More than one killer or accomplice
4 points
Nude Scene >= 1
3 points
Suspects >= 3
4 points
Urban Location
4 points
Signatures : 5/10
Foreigner
1 points
Gay/Lesbian
1 points
Pathologist
1 points
Photography/Glamor/Modeling/Art
1 points
Spiral Stairs
1 points
Total Points : 71/100