Classics Marathon: Demons + What Have You Done To Solange? + The Wizard of Gore
Czas trwania: 320 min.
Rok produkcji:
Kraj pochodzenia:
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"Demons", 1985, dir. Lamberto Bava
Lamberto Bava's biggest commercial success and perhaps the first fully self-aware horror film in the history of European cinema. The characters here are viewers who receive tickets to a mysterious screening of a film about demons - during the screening, however, real creatures emerge from the screen.
Breaking the fourth wall definitely paid off for Bava, because "Demons", produced by Dario Argent, turned out to be a huge hit and got a sequel. This was greatly influenced by the contemporary nature of the film, which in many places referred to the American, entertainment cinema of the New Adventure, as well as the excellent soundtrack, containing not only compositions by Claudio Simonetti (known from the band Goblin), but also songs by Mötley Crüe, Billy Idol and the band Accept - to which one of the characters cuts demons with a katana, riding around the cinema on a motorbike.
"What Have You Done to Solange?", 1972, dir. Massimo Dallamano
Italian genre cinema of the 1970s was famous for its macabre, mystery and intricate intrigues, and "What Have You Done to Solange?" is a true giallo gem - full of suspense, brutality and visual elegance. At the center of the story is a teacher, Enrico, who has an affair with one of his students. When the girl witnesses a brutal murder, a series of macabre crimes begins, and Enrico becomes the prime suspect. The trail leads to the titular Solange, a mysterious figure whose past holds the key to solving the mystery.
"What Have You Done to Solange?" is also distinguished by the excellent music of Ennio Morricone, whose melancholic sounds perfectly complement the sinister mood of the film. This is one of those works that stays in the memory for a long time, making the viewer unable to take their eyes off the screen even in the most terrifying moments. For giallo fans, this is a must-see, still surprising and fascinating despite the passage of time.
"The Wizard of Gore", 1970, dir. Herschell Gordon Lewis
In the 1970s, American exploitation cinema went all out, pushing the boundaries of good taste and shocking viewers with brutality that could not be seen anywhere else. "The Wizard of Gore", directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis - the godfather of gore - is one of the most extreme examples of this trend, offering viewers a spectacle that is bloody, grotesque and at the same time disturbingly hypnotizing.
The main character is Montag the Magnificent, an illusionist who in his shows performs horrifying tortures on volunteers from the audience. Bodies are torn to shreds and internal organs are pulled out to the horror of the crowd. However, at the end of each show, the victims miraculously come back to life… at least until their mutilated corpses are discovered later in real life.
