10 March 2014

DVD Review - The 10th Victim (La decima vittima)


Genre:
Action, Sc-fi, Comedy, World Cinema
Distributor:
Shameless Entertainment
Rating: 18
DVD Release Date:
10th March 2014 (UK)
Director:
Elio Petri
Cast:
Marcello Mastroianni, Ursula Andress, Elsa Martinelli
Buy:The 10th Victim [DVD & Blu-Ray]

The 10th Victim is a mid 60s cult curiosity that like many of them seem like a hidden gem until you actually watch it. Elio Petri directed the film who would later make the classic Italian film Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion. It stars Italian superstar Marcello Mastroianni most famous for playing Fellini’s alter ego in many films and the first Bond girl Ursula Andress.

The film is a pop art piece of 60s dystopia, in the near future to avoid war they make individuals with a taste of violence fight it out in The Big Hunt. Like in the better cult classic The Running Man it’s the most popular form of entertainment. Mastroianni and Andress’ characters are both participants in The Big Hunt. There are 10 rounds 5 are the hunter and 5 as the victim to win and Andress’ Caroline Meredith is one off winning and I think you can guess her next target.

Shameless Entertainment has released the film in the UK and includes both the Italian and English dub, both are pretty bad but the English one is the surprising victor due to the use of Ursula Andress’s original voice. It’s one of those films which was a probably a lot of run to make and Mastroianni seems to be having a absolute to blast in his role as Marcello Poletti. It has fantastic set design at times especially Poletti’s apartment and the costume design is hipper than hip 60s mod designs which are pretty fab.

However it’s a bit a bore to watch and after a initial first half an hour it becomes a bit of a core to watch and you just don’t seem to care. Despite a lot of problems it’s a fun goofy as hell kitschy 60s pop art cult film that really shouldn’t be taken to serious and is a short enough it doesn’t totally outstay it’s welcome. Shameless has includes a interview with horror/sci-fi expert Kim Newman which brings some next context to the proceedings.

★★★☆☆

Ian Schultz


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