A right-wing newspaper attempts to derail the police investigation of the brutal rape and murder of a young girl to help the candidates it supports in the upcoming elections.
Marco Bellocchio’s “Slap the Monster on Page One” begins with footage of political demonstrations and riots. The footage is raw and messy, full of dirt and debris—making one question the restoration work that went into this film—which sucks the audience into the turmoil of Italy in the 1970s.
The film’s story itself begins with rioters throwing a Molotov cocktail into the offices of the newspaper Il Giornale and setting fire to some printed papers sitting on a rack. Instead of rushing to put the fire out, those present ensure photos are taken so the event can be published on the front page.
These two sequences set the tone for what follows as Il Giornale’s editor, Giancarlo Bizanti (Gian Maria Volonté), in the days leading up to an election manipulates a story involving the rape and murder of a young student to promote the campaign of the man the paper endorses for office. It’s a chilling story that feels prescient in our current political climate, where sensationalized stories with click-bait headlines are pushed.
While the performances, direction, and technical aspects of the filmmaking are top-notch, this movie didn’t do much for me. It feels like we’ve seen these types of political newspaper thrillers before but done better. While watching the disc’s special features, I found it interesting to learn that the film’s director didn’t come around to liking his own work until recently.
On to the disc itself. Radiance states in the included booklet that the film ‘was restored in 4K resolution from the original negative.’ Apart from the introductory shots, which are purposefully rough, the film looks and sounds outstanding. I noticed nothing distracting about the picture or audio while viewing this movie.
Per usual with Radiance discs, this film features a collection of extras that help to illuminate the time period in which the film was made, offering context and insight. Among these features are an archival interview with director Bellocchio, an interview with critic Mario Sesti, and an appreciation from filmmaker Alex Cox. If you’re interested in getting some background before viewing the movie, the features are a good place to start—they don’t offer spoilers for the film’s final reveal, allowing the viewer to discover the outcome for themselves. There’s also a booklet included with the limited edition that features an essay from Wesley Sharer.
“Slap the Monster on Page One” left me with a “meh” reaction. Its storyline and techniques are good, but they couldn’t overcome the sense of deja vu. This limited edition offers a nice presentation of the film and some illuminated extras.
Now available on a Limited Edition Blu-ray™ from Radiance Films
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