Blazing Magnum Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Blazing Magnum Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 3, 2026

Alberto De Martino's "Blazing Magnum" a.k.a. "Strange Shadows in an Empty Room" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Steve Mitchell and Troy Howarth; archival program with Alberto De Martino; archival program with critic Kim Newman; and vintage trailer. In English or Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

In a very interesting archival program, Alberto De Martino reveals that some years ago he was considered “the most American director” in Italy. De Martino earned the reputation because he worked hard to make his films appear as American as possible. However, it is important to clarify that this reputation was misleading then and still is now because of a very, very important detail, which is the main reason De Martino’s films are worth rediscovering.

The important detail is that De Martino made “American films” that could not be any more Italian. Indeed, his entire concept of “American” was shaped by two distinctly Italian requirements: casting as many American actors as possible, or foreign actors with American-sounding names, and shooting a lot of very wild footage with them. In De Martino’s mind, “American” was synonymous with unconventional, over-the-top, and racy, so when making his “American films”, he was working with an Italian blueprint that was inspired strictly by his unbridled imagination. Of course, this is how the vast majority of the big cult Italian films from the 1970s and 1980s were made -- they enthusiastically copied and improved what their Italian creators had seen in various American genre films. So, while unique, De Martino’s Italian blueprint was not exactly groundbreaking.

Blazing Magnum a.k.a. Strange Shadows in an Empty Room unites several American, Canadian, and British actors, and then unleashes them in what is unquestionably an Italian genre film, not an American film. It was most likely modeled after the Dirty Harry films released before it. However, it is not a copycat because it blends material that would have never been used in them. For example, it has a most amusing sequence in which several unhinged transvestites clash with a veteran cop who enters their kinky lair uninvited. It also has a few quite graphic sequences that could have been extracted from one of Dario Argento’s classic gialli. Its action footage, despite being shot in Canada, is unmistakably Italian as well. It is very intense and rough, clearly shot with as few takes as possible.

The other unmissable Italian quality of Blazing Magnum is the twistiness of its narrative. For a while, it seems like Captain Tony Saitta (Stuart Whitman) and his partner Ned Matthews (John Saxon) will spend all of their time investigating the puzzling murder of the former’s much younger sister (Carole Laure), who has had an affair with a married doctor (Martin Landau). However, at the right time both become participants in a wild, exploitative rodeo of the kind that only an Italian would have found logical. As a result, guessing correctly where Blazing Magnum intends to go and how it may get there becomes quite difficult, which of course is what ultimately makes it an enjoyable film.

De Martino shot Blazing Magnum with Joe D’Amato, who is rightfully considered one of the true greats of Italian post-war cult cinema. A prolific director/cinematographer/writer/producer, D’Amato was a workaholic who contributed to a wide range of different projects, from comedies and spaghetti westerns to gialli and hardcore pornographic films. In Blazing Magnum, D’Amato does very well what he specialized in as a cinematographer — memorable over-the-top content that looks a lot more expensive and professional than it is. Its highlight is a long sequence in which Saitta attempts to nab a lowlife named The Swede, which is every bit as impressive as the legendary chase in Henri Verneuil’s The Burglars.

Like all quality Italian genre films from the 1970s and 1980s, Blazing Magnum has a wonderful soundtrack with soft jazzy/psychedelica tunes as well. It was composed by the award-winning maestro Armando Trovajoli (Marriage Italian Style, Scent of a Woman).

*Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release presents two versions of the film: Blazing Magnum, which is the European version of it, and Shadows in an Empty Room, which is the American version of it. Both have identical running times.

Blazing Magnum Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Blazing Magnum arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The presents two versions of the film: Blazing Magnum, which is the European version of it, and Shadows in an Empty Room, which is the American version of it. Both have identical running times. The screencaptures included with this article appear in the following order:

Screencaptures #1-21 are taken from the American version, Shadows in an Empty Room.
Screencaptures #25-40 are taken from the European version, Blazing Magnum.

A couple of years ago, the European version was restored in 4K on behalf of StudioCanal. In the United Kingdom, the 4K restoration was introduced on Blu-ray in the summer of 2023. (If you click on the link, you can see our review of this release). I am not a fan of the 4K restoration. While it produces inconsistent visuals, which make it easy to speculate that it may have been a reconstruction job as well, it gives the film a healthy appearance. Unfortunately, like so many 4K restorations that are graded on the other side of the Atlantic, it replaces the film's native appearance. The 4K restoration routinely produces visuals that are too green/yellowish/teally, destabilizing the color temperature of the original cinematography. The dynamic range of many awkwardly graded visuals can be underwhelming as well. The same 4K restoration, with the same issues, is featured on this Blu-ray release. My score is 3.00/5.00.

In America, the American version was remastered a decade ago on behalf of Scorpion Releasing and Kino Lorber. This remaster/restoration was introduced on Blu-ray in 2016. I prefer this presentation. While it produces somewhat rougher visuals -- some display tiny nicks and blemishes -- it is far better graded. I suspect that an interpositive was accessed during the remastering process because all primaries and just about all supporting nuances are properly set. Some simply reveal signs of aging. However, the entire film has the proper color temperature introduced by the original cinematography, which makes a huge difference while viewing it. Unfortunately, the European and American versions are placed on a dual-layer disc, and their technical presentations are not ideal. Both would have looked noticeably better on individual dual-layer discs, with additional encoding optimizations. Nevertheless, I consider the inclusion of the more accurately remastered American version an important upgrade. My score is 3.5/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Blazing Magnum Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 for Blazing Magnum, and English DTS-HD Master Audio for Shadows in an Empty Room. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided for Blazing Magnum. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for Shadows in an Empty Room.

Both English tracks are preferable because the stars deliver their lines in English. However, these tracks have areas with noticeable unevenness. On the American version, the English track is slightly healthier. However, it also has areas where the upper register becomes shaky. I do not find any of the limitations on these tracks, whether introduced when they were finalized or not, distracting at all. Clarity and dynamic intensity are still perfectly fine, or at least for an Italian genre film from the 1970s.

Blazing Magnum Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Special Sentiment: Alberto De Martino's Magnum Memories - in this archival program, Alberto De Martino discusses his reputation as "the most American director" in Italy and the evolution of his career. Also, there are some very interesting comments about his experience as a jazz pianist and relationship with Joe D'Amato. In Italian, with English subtitles. (13 min).

• City Hunter: Kim Newman on Blazing Magnum - in this recent program, critic Kim Newman discusses Blazing Magnum. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Steve Mitchell and Troy Howarth.

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered trailer for Blazing Magnum. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

Blazing Magnum Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Any other European or American director would have delivered an instantly forgettable crime thriller in which Captain Tony Saitta and his partner, Ned Matthews, simply connect the dots and, at the right time, nab the killer. But under Alberto De Martino's direction, the two become participants in a wild, exploitative rodeo only an Italian would have found logical, which is why Blazing Magnum is an unpredictable and very entertaining genre film.

This upcoming release present a recent 4K restoration of the European version of the film, as well as an older remaster/restoration of the American version of the film. The 4K restoration is quite underwhelming. Despite being rougher, the older remaster/restoration is superior. Later this month, the 4K restoration will also be made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.