Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Death OccurredLast Night (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video


 Italy/1970
Directed By: Duccio Tessari
Written By: Artur Braun, Biagio Proje, Giorgio Scerbanenco, Duccio Tessari
Starring: Frank Wolfe, Raf Vallone, Gabriele Tinti
Color/98 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
When a beautiful young woman who is mentally handicapped with the mental development of a three year old goes missing it is feared she has been kidnapped into the local sex trafficking rings. Her distraught father tired of the police's nonchalant attitude about his missing daughter begins his own investigation on the side, taking him and the local police into the underbelly of the city and face to face with some of the most despicable, forlorn and lost people the city has to offer. It also brings them face to face with a cold, harsh reality.

DEATH OCCURED LAST NIGHT, Duccio Tessari's giallo, isn't a fun film. It doesn't have the whirls of style that Argento's gialli have that make them entertaining to watch. After a rather out a of place opening few minutes, Tessari plays this film straight, real straight. We are forced to witness a father come to grips with the nasty reality of it all without any hope of being able to turn our attention elsewhere for a break. She has the mind of a child, and it's Saturday.

Tessari's unyielding coldness in how he presents DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT is what makes the film. Tessari forces the reality down the viewer's throat and tells us to deal with it. Not necessarily to accept it, that would make him the same scum that his villains are, but to deal with it because that's how it is. The road this film takes in discovering the truth just brings us further and further to a place we aren't comfortable going and digs a deeper and deeper pit in our stomach as our fears become reality. As I said, DEATH OCCURED LAST NIGHT isn't fun, but it is a rock solid giallo.

The Audio & Video
Raro Video is on point with their Blu-ray of DEATH OCCURRED. Their anamorphic widescreen transfer features excellent levels of detail- just look at clothing. Colors are full bodied and lively, despite a dingy, overcast city being the location for the film. The 2.0 Italian audio track is very good, it sounds well mixed, with no background noise. Subtitles are well timed and easy to read.

The Extras
-Video Interview with Fangoria Editor Chris Alexander
-Full Color Booklet by Chris Alexander
-International and American Theatrical Trailers


The Bottom Line
Giallo fans will be thrilled with this new Blu-ray from Raro. A damn fine release for a great film. 

DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT is available HERE

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