I’d venture to say that this Fulci gem is somewhat unknown to a lot of people. It never had a legitimate release here in the U.S., one I picked up years ago from a dub dealer, a decent print. Following some so-so films, 2 made for TV jaunts ‘Sweet House of Horrors’ ‘89 and ‘House of Clocks’ ‘89 and the likable ‘Demonia’ ‘90, this is his last great movie. After ‘Nightmare Concert’ he only did 2 more ‘Voices from Beyond’ ‘90 and ‘Door to Silence’ ‘92 before his passing on March 13, 1996. R.I.P. Lucio Fulci.

What we have is a melding of giallo splatter & sleaze, the backbone of Italian Horror, in a odd kind of hallucinogenic violent misogynistic freak out or the gore set pieces show, that really is like a nightmare. Made in the name of splatter, director Lucio Fulci, Italy’s Godfather of Gore, pulls an interesting move by starring in his own film as a director haunted by the violent films he makes. [Hmmm, I wonder if Wes Craven borrowed this idea for ‘A New Nightmare’?!] Seems the violent images he puts in his films are driving him a bit crazy as he begins hallucinating scenes he has recently made.

As he becomes more and more delusional Lucio seeks the help of a shrink for hypnosis therapy as real life murders begin happening around him. So the question is. Is Mr. Fulci responsible? Has his violent films pushed over the edge to commit murder? Can it be true? Does watching violent material cause one to become violent? Or is there something more sinister at work here? So many questions. I’m not telling so you’ll have to go buy or rent this gore-a-palooza to find out.

I will tell you however, this is a Gore-de-Force with blood covered smatterings of chainsaw misconduct, stabbings, tongue ripping, microwave mayhem, wheel chair death, zombies and you know your not going to get though a Fulci movie without a throat slashing. The bloodiest shower slashing I’ve seen, beaten only by the totally insane and brutal shower slashing in Sergio Pastore’s giallo ‘Sette Scialli Di seta Gialla aka The Crimes of the Black Cat’ ’72.

Peppered with sex & sleaze and yeah there really is a ‘cat in the brain’ in the opening credits. The f/x aren’t Gino de Rossi or Giannetto de Rossi caliber but they work with generous portions of gratuitous grue. The more well tuned Fulci fans will notice that some of the scenes have been culled from the gore comedy ’Quando Alice Ruppe lo Specchio - When Alice Broke the Mirror’ aka ‘Touch of Death’ ‘88 and the groan inducing Nazi exploitation ‘Il Fantasma di Sodoma - The Ghosts of Sodom’ ’88. [sorry Lucio].

My video is now retired in favor of this Grindhouse Releasing 2 DVD extravaganza that packs some nifty Xtras..
Disc: 1 A New High Definition Anamorphic Digital restoration of the Uncensored Director’s Cut that’s looking very nice, This also has the original Italian Track with Subs as well as the English Dubbed Track, Original Italian & U.S. Trailers, Still Galleries with Production Stills and Promotional Materials,
Mr. Fulci’s famous Fangoria appearance 1996

Disc: 2 In-depth interviews with Mr. Fulci; Genre Terrorist & The TV Years, Brett Halsey Interview: Living la Polace Vita, Memories of Lucio with Jeoffrey Kennedy – Gabrielli, Sacha Marsa Parwin – Woman in the Oven, Malisa Longo – Katya, Biographies of Lucio Fulci & Brett Halsey, Previews come in the form of Pieces, The Beyond, Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox, I Drink Your Blood, The Tough Ones, Massacre Mafia Style, Gone With the Pope, Scum of the Earth & An American Hippie in Israel Trailers. And finally a 10 page booklet.

As to the question: Does watching violent material cause one to become violent? I say no. If true I would have went on one hell’va killing spree by now.