A low-ranking journalist at the Tribuna Sera newspaper receives a letter one day. His correspondence contains a serial killer’s letters, which he exploits.
Valerio Barigozzi (Johnny Dorelli) is a down-on-his-luck reporter in a failing marriage, working the advice column for his newspaper’s gossip magazine. One day, as he opens the mail, he receives a note from “The Monster” warning that a prominent children’s television show host will die. Not taking the message lightly, he tries to raise an alarm with his superiors and the police but is met only with dismissive remarks. Going out of his way to warn the TV host, Barigozzi instead finds the man’s dead body. In the aftermath, his superiors and the authorities wipe away all evidence that was brought to their attention.
Director Luigi Zampa’s giallo-esque thriller “Il Mostro” (“The Monster”) adds a satirical edge to a genre already dwindling in popularity by the film’s 1977 release. Zampa opens the film with the violent murder of a woman, suggesting more violence and bloodshed is to follow. However, it’s revealed that this sequence is a scene from a movie Barigozzi is watching with his teenage son, Luca (Enzo Santaniello). As they leave the theater, Barigozzi launches into a tirade about the violence and poor plotting in films of that era—a subversive takedown of the genre and a challenge to the viewers who enjoy this bloody mayhem.
Shortly after finding the body, Barigozzi discovers another note from “The Monster” threatening to murder another prominent figure. This time, taking matters into his own hands, Barigozzi attempts to thwart what he now suspects is a serial killer. Zampa, aided by a tense Ennio Morricone score, uses the giallo genre’s trademark POV shots to show the killer stalking his or her victims. Whereas most films of this type show the violence, here we’re only witnesses to the aftermath. Viewers hoping for some Argento-style bloodshed will be disappointed.
Taking a satirical jab, the film has Barigozzi use his connection to the case to enhance his career. He’s less concerned with finding the killer and more concerned with how the story can benefit him. Zampa uses Barigozzi to criticize the journalistic exploitation of violent crime for profit. The writer sinks his teeth into the public and refuses to let go, using everything and anything to fuel the story’s hysteria and sensationalism and make a name for himself. While this focus strengthens the satire, it weakens the film as a thriller.
Zampa keeps the film’s narrative compelling and gripping for the film’s first hour. Unfortunately, that momentum disappears in the film’s final third. Everything comes to a standstill as Barigozzi further tries to gain promotion and acclaim, pushing the mystery and danger to the background to explore Barigozzi’s ambitions. To be fair, I thought it was fairly obvious who the killer was, though the ultimate revelation is probably less the point of the movie than how it affects things.
“The Monster” is released on Blu-ray Disc by Radiance Films using a new 2K restoration from the original negative. Although details can look a bit blurry at times, this is a generally pleasing transfer that presents the movie in a clear, film-like manner. The Italian PCM mono audio track delivers clean, clear audio.
Radiance delivers the film with its usual assortment of enlightening, clarifying extras. These include an audio commentary on the film by Rachael Nisbet and Peter Jilmstad, the documentary about the making of the film entitled “Head Bent Forward,” an interview with Italian cinema expert Richard Dyer, and the film’s trailer. The limited edition also includes a booklet featuring writing by Roberto Curti and archival interviews with Zampa and Dorelli.
Despite its compelling first hour, “The Monster” ends with an unsatisfactory final act that strips much of the film’s tension and suspense. I suspect this is Zampa’s intent—it just didn’t totally work for me. Giallo fans will probably be most interested and likely to check this one out. Disappointments with the movie aside, Radiance has put together a nice release for Zampa’s film.
Now available on Limited Edition Blu-ray™ from RADIANCE FILMS
