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Gary / Indie Horror Movies, 2023
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Scorpion with Two Tails (aka The
Scorpion with Two Tales;
Assassinio al cimitero etrusco; Lo Scorpione a Due
Code)
Directed by Sergio
Martino
Dania Movie; Medusa Distribuzione; Publikampus;
Full Moon Leisure; MVD Visible
98 minutes, 1982 / 2022
www.FullMoonDirect.com
www.MVDVisual.com
To not be confused with
director Sergio Martino’s The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail (La coda dello
scorpione, 1971) there are some Italian giallo
style that will get a chef’s kiss, when speaking in regards to the A-line of the likes of
Dario Argento, Lucho Fulci, Mario Bava, and many others. Nonetheless, as with each style,
there may be additionally the B-films, of which that is one. That’s actually not meant as
an insult, however fairly an announcement of reality.
 |
| John Saxon |
Like many giallo
movies of the interval, that they had some fading stars from the break-up of the film
studio system, on this case John Saxon (d. 2020) and Van Johnson (d. 2008). Saxon’s
position is extra of a cameo, and Johnson’s was in all probability not more than a few
day’s work, and are within the movie extra for title recognition to promote for the
Western viewers. That being stated, I have no idea if their roles have been longer in
the tv model (see under).
This movie was standard in
Italy beneath the title Homicide within the Etruscan Cemetery, however I’m keen
to guess {dollars} to donuts (Lira to ciambella?) that they modified the title to the
Scorpion one, regardless that it’d make one from this aspect of the Pond
go “henh?”, however I guess some advertising and marketing group believed that Individuals aren’t
educated sufficient to look past their very own borders, and work out the which means of
“Etruscan.”
Etruria is an space of
Italy when it was a bunch of Nation States, that’s on the west coast about
midway down the “boot,” throughout from the island of Corsica. That they had their very own
language and rituals.
 |
| Elvire Audray |
Joan (Elvire Audray, who
seems like Julia Duffy throughout her “Designing Ladies” years, d. 2000 at age 40)
is a psychic who has a dream her archeologist husband, Arthur (Saxon), who
research Etruscan historical past, will fittingly be murdered in an historical Etruscan loss of life
ceremony. In fact, not like actual life however distinguished in Italian giallo, she
has the shining, because it have been. And being a giallo, a few of these visions
embody maggots. De rigueur.
I used to be bemused when considered one of
the opening pictures was of Joan strolling throughout Fifth Avenue in New York, with St.
Patrick’s Cathedral behind her; I do get the thought: normal faith (comparatively trendy) vs. fringe faith (then).
It’s fairly widespread for Italian giallos to be shot considerably in New York,
similar to Fulci’s The New York Ripper (1982; quack-quack). It was nostalgic
to see not solely the World Commerce Heart, but in addition 5 WTC, the constructing the place I
labored for quite a lot of years across the time this was shot. Many different scenes
have been filmed in Italy, deep in actual catacombs, caves and cemeteries. Whereas Joan is
in my dwelling city, Arthur is within the Etruscan ‘hood. Additionally, like many releases on this
style, the movie is each spoken in English in components, and dubbed into the
language from Italian in others, relying on who’s talking. For lots of the
Italian actors, even those talking English, they’re dubbed over in that
language. That is made a bit apparent in a scene with Johnson, the place the folks
he’s speaking to sound regular (dubbed), and his voice is echoey, as he
clearly didn’t join dub periods.
 |
| Van Johnson, Audray |
Factor is, whereas Arthur is the
good man, Joan’s father, Mulligan (Johnson) is a drug and antiquities smuggler,
although she is unaware of that a part of their lives. Following the fruition of
her dream, Joan travels to Italy with a piece companion who has the hots for
her, Mike (Paolo Marco). There, they meet the splendidly named Contessa Maria
Volumna (Marilù Tolo, who I bear in mind because the whip-wielding Conchita within the 1968
basic, Sweet). The Contessa hosted Arthur when he was murdered at her
villa. Additionally serving to in making an attempt to determine what is going on is Venessa Hull
(Wandisa Guida, who starred in quite a few Italian Sword and Sorcery movies within the
Nineteen Sixties; this was her final movie), and Nick (Jacques Stany, nee Stanislaski).
Joan is set to
examine Arthur’s demise, and naturally, this being a giallo, nothing
is because it appears and neither is anybody. Who’s the nice guys, who’s the
harmful ones? What’s the which means of the titular piece of historical jewelry? In
the in the meantime, we get to see some actually superb historical websites and carvings in
their pure settings.
As Joan scopes out occasions
and individuals are turning up useless (once more, giallo), as we slowly however certainly
delve into prison exercise, psychic goals, and probably reincarnation
(shades of 1932’s The Mummy!). This might have gotten away with simply the
smuggling story and nonetheless be giallo, however that there’s a supernatural
component is a bonus for my worldview (wheelhouse?).
Like an Agatha Christie
novel, there are far more characters than appear crucial, making the story a
bit convoluted at occasions. This tends to tug the story out a bit, as one tries
to comply with who everyone seems to be, and the way they’re related to the primary plotline.
I consider it is a method to produce crimson herrings and exposition, but it surely
generally feels ponderous. Personally, I might have appreciated to have seen extra of
the supernatural component than the smuggling.
The soundtrack is
completely moody and has sturdy ties to the giallo style, with a rating by
the well-recognized Fabio Frizzi (who did the identical for quite a lot of Fulci movies,
and even not too long ago with Nightmare Symphony in 2022).
Giallos are inclined to have a number of the greatest and lengthy titles, and
that is positively considered one of them. Additionally as in lots of giallos, a lot of the
dialogue is fraught and at excessive drama (I name it Telenovela type), like it’s
one thing out of an Anne Rice guide (an expository instance: “He opened the door!
He walked contained in the room!!”). There may be additionally the almost obligatory murderer in a
bike helmet or masks. This may be carried on in giallo-styled
movies similar to Maniac Driver (2020) and Nightmare Symphony..
Extras for the Blu-ray and DVD are
a Deleted Scenes part (19 min), which include components that have been excised for
the tv model; it’s in Italian with subtitles, together with Saxon’s
voice dubbed into Italiano. Additionally included are a bunch of Euro Trash
Trailers. Skimpy, however good. I simply want they included English subtitles.
That is the primary time
this has been launched in North America on Blu-ray and DVD, clearly taken
from the unique print, because the occasional movie “noise” is current. It’s also
not “crispy clear,” having a slight fuzz to the unique (but nonetheless higher high quality
than a VHS, the place I initially noticed it many years in the past). Full Moon stated this model
was, “taken from the most effective supply materials obtainable.” Beforehand, this was an
8-part miniseries on Rai Tv (Radiotelevisione italiana}, and was
minimize all the way down to this movie size earlier than being launched in Europe exterior Italy.
One of many oddities I’ve
discovered is the random Accomplice flag within the dwelling of photographer Gianni (Franco
Garofalo; d. 2019). All that being stated, it is a enjoyable movie, drenched deep in
the giallo method. Being a giallo B-film, that’s greater than high-quality
as I’ve an affection for movies under the “A” grade.
IMDB itemizing HERE
Trailer is HERE
