The murder of a wealthy countess triggers a chain reaction of brutal killings in the surrounding bay area, as several unscrupulous characters try to seize her large estate.The murder of a wealthy countess triggers a chain reaction of brutal killings in the surrounding bay area, as several unscrupulous characters try to seize her large estate.The murder of a wealthy countess triggers a chain reaction of brutal killings in the surrounding bay area, as several unscrupulous characters try to seize her large estate.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 1 nomination
- Simone
- (as Claudio Volonté)
- Laura
- (as Anna M. Rosati)
- Sylvie
- (as Paola Rubens)
- Renata and Alberto's Son
- (uncredited)
- Renata and Alberto's Daughter
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFriday the 13th (1980) and Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) pay homage to this movie by lifting two murders from it (one in each movie), almost shot for shot. The locations in all three movies look similar.
- GoofsThe Count is stabbed repeatedly in his back and then he falls on his back and dies. When the killer is dragging him away, there should be a blood trail leading from The Countess to the door.
- Quotes
Simon: Man should live and let live, and without any interfering.
Paolo: Even that poor squid was free once, Simon, eh? I study Coleoptera because I love them.
Simon: Sure, but the squirming little creatures still end up under your microscope. Yeah, he's dead all right but at least I eat my squid. But I don't kill as a hobby like you do.
Paolo: Good lord, Simon. You make me feel like a murderer.
Simon: I'm not saying that, Mr. Fossati, but if you kill for killing's sake, you become a monster.
Paolo: But, man isn't an insect, my dear Simon. We have centuries of civilization behind us, you know.
Simon: No, I don't know. I wasn't there.
- Alternate versionsThe Italian version contains alternative filmed dialog scenes by the same characters. It also includes different character names for the 4 teenagers who stumble upon the abandoned disco.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Don't Scream: It's Only a Movie! (1985)
This film is hailed as the precursor to Halloween and Friday the 13th. It certainly spares no blood, and has a gratuitous decapitation to make it a true nasty.
Nudity is at a minimum, with just a skinny dip segment by one of the college kids that happened upon the cottage and set off the chain of murders.
It was funny to see the hand almost on the ass of the girl as the long dead body rises to the surface. her friends met a grisly death, with two of them dispatched at once in bed, with the guy on top still pumping away as he is dying.
What makes this film very interesting, and may be a distraction for some is the story line. It is minimalist, but there is a story. One man is trying to find out who killed his mother, One women is chasing down the death of her father. Revenge plays a part, but the main story is familiar to those of us here in Florida - greedy developers. Here they only kill wildlife in their quest for land, in this film anyone who gets in the way is dispatched. So, you have not one slasher, but several with different motives.
And, just when you think you have finally got everything just the way you want it, Bava throws in a twist that had me laughing my ass off.
The jungle music throughout irritated me mildly, but it did fit the scenery.
- lastliberal
- Nov 6, 2008
Details
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1