Giallo in Venice: Is It Trash?
Blu-ray Distributed By: Scorpion Releasing / August 21, 2018
The beautiful canals of Venice are stained with blood when the bodies of young couples are found savagely murdered. Inspector De Pol sets out to unravel what happened to the young victims. The deeper he digs, the more sordid secrets he uncovers, but more people will die before the mystery is finally resolved. This infamous mixture of sleazy eroticism and over the top gore is one of the wildest films from the golden age of Italian exploitation cinema.
This is a public service announcement.
When you blind buy movies you are playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette. Sometimes the blind buy pays off and you find a hidden gem (Flesh & Bullets). Sometimes, you find Giallo In Venice.
When I bought this limited blu-ray from the folks at Scorpion Releasing, the last thing I expected to see was a close-up of a man grinding his crank, or the graphic and bloody stabbing of a prosthetic hairy 70s bush with a pair of scissors. I’m quite certain I shouted an expletive at the television in each case.
Trash Verdict: Borderline Filth
Is Giallo in Venice a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
Jimbo’s Take 
(2.5 / 5)
Like I said, buyer beware when you blind buy!
For the uninitiated, a Giallo (Italian thriller or murder mystery) is typically defined by elements of excessive violence, liberal amounts nudity, or lots of sex. The main plot of Giallo In Venice centers around all three. A perfect trifecta?
The film opens with an unseen killer stabbing a man in his junk. Shortly thereafter Inspector Angelo De Pol is on the scene, investigating the double homicide of married couple Flavia and Fabio, whilst eating his never ending supply of hard boiled eggs.
The detective quickly deduces that there may be a twisted sexual undercurrent as a likely motive. This theory pays off and the film begins to structure itself with a series of flashbacks that allow the audience to get familiar with the murdered couple before their demise.
Giallo In Venice is not going to rank among the top Giallo’s typically held by films like Deep Red or Don’t Torture A Ducking. But it’s certainly not a bore or waste of time either. Anyone who enjoys a solid murder mystery with very liberal sexual underpinnings may enjoy this. But I staple a huge asterisk next to this title.
If it weren’t for the two scenes described above, I might recommend it. Technical specs are strong. Scorpion Releasing boasts a “New 2018 scan with extensive color correction – in Italian with new subtitle translation.” The blu-ray also includes an entertaining commentary track from film historian Troy Howarth.
The performances are mostly good and I found myself caring and sympathizing for Flavia, even knowing her ultimate fate. The sexual scenes range from erotic to rough, some feeling excessive and exploitative, but at least tying back to the film’s central plot.
However, the sadistic cruelty of showing a woman getting impaled in her most sensitive of areas leaves me cold. And showing a close-up of a man stroking himself is simply there for shock, nothing more. Especially when you consider the film seems content with being very liberal with full-frontal female nudity and the male counterparts only shows their rear-ends. It’s impossible to defend its blatant misogyny. And the shock achieved, though successful, rips the audience right out of the movie.
At this point I can imagine that you are having one of two thoughts. Option A: I’m glad Jimbo warned me about this so I don’t have to watch this filth! Option B: I’ve got to see that! Where do I find a copy?
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, the Giallo In Venice blu-ray sold out almost immediately. Scorpion Releasing even pressed an additional 100 copies to meet demand and those sold out! However, there may be more copies on the way. So for any perverts out there, you might want to bookmark online retailers RoninFlix.com and DiabolikDVD.com so you don’t miss out of future filth.
As for the rest of you… I hope this public service announcement has been both enlightening and educational.
Jimbo says: You’ve been warned! One Man’s Trash, Another’s Treasure!
Special Features:
- New 2018 scan with extensive color correction – in Italian with new subtitle translation
- Audio Commentary with film historian Troy Howarth
- Reversible Cover
