Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Killer Nun Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 18, 2024

Giulio Berruti's "Killer Nun" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Shameless Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include recent program with Giulio Berruti; archival program with Anita Ekberg; and exclusive new audio commentary by critic Rachel Nisbet. In English or Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The title of Giulio Berruti’s film is most appropriate because the story that is told in it is indeed about a killing nun who apparently worked in a nursing home somewhere in Belgium. When in the late ‘70s people there started dying like flies, the Belgian police launched an investigation and the nun was quickly arrested. What happened after that is unclear, but the news about the killing nun reached Italy, and director Berruti decided to shoot a film about her. In other words, if you are looking for a very sleazy nunsploitation film, Killer Nun probably is not for you. You would be better off researching the work of directors like Gianfranco Mingozzi and Joe D’Amato.

The nun is played by Swedish sex symbol Anita Ekberg. Early into the film, we learn that she has had a tumor removed and is suffering from chronic migraines. The pain is so strong that she has started taking drugs in order to continue performing her duties. No one in the nursing home knows, possibly with the exception of the director (Daniele Dublino), who may or may not have a good reason to keep quiet.

Eventually, the nun goes on a killing spree. There does not appear to be a good reason why, but it looks like she has temporary blackouts which effectively alter her personality. As the bodies start piling up, the blackouts get longer and more intense. The nun attempts to convince one of the doctors (Massimo Serato) in the nursing home that she might be going crazy, but he quickly dismisses her fears.

However, the chronic migraines intensify and the nun’s personality from the blackouts permanently replaces her old personality. The new person is an aggressive psychotic woman who travels to the nearby town, seduces a man in a bar, and later humiliates another nun (the stunningly beautiful Paola Morra) who has apparently fallen in love with her.

Things become complicated when a young doctor arrives in the nursing home and starts paying attention to details everyone else has been ignoring.

The film does have a darker side which pushes it in the direction of the sleazy nunsploitation genre, but it is difficult to view it as cheap entertainment. The gore and nudity are added to its story simply to make it look attractive to a larger group of viewers who may not otherwise bother with it. This was a common practice in Italian cinema during the late ‘70s and ‘80s when the sexy comedies, for instance, became enormously popular. (Many of these films were actually very effective commentaries on sexuality, politics and culture).

In Italy, the authorities censored the film because its producers apparently went a step too far in their attempts to tie its story to the Vatican and some other scandals that were covered in the media. One particular sequence that was censored shows the nun effectively replacing God with drugs.

Several big character actors have memorable cameos: Alida Valli (Novecento), Lou Castel (Fists in the Pocket), and Joe Dallesandro, (Je Taime Moi Non Plus).

Berrutti worked with cinematographer Antonio Maccoppi, whose credits include such controversial genre films as Cristiana monaca indemoniata a.k.a. Our Lady of Lust and Le lunghe notti della Gestapo a.k.a. Red Nights of the Gestapo.

Killer Nun 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, Killer Nun arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Shameless Entertainment.

The release introduces the recent 2K restoration of Killer Nun, which was introduced in the United States by Arrow Video. In the United States, Killer Nun made its high-definition debut with this release from Blue Underground in 2012.

The 2K makeover is very good. The most substantial improvement on it is the elimination of the scanner noise that was present on the older master Blue Underground worked with. On a large screen, all visuals have a very attractive organic appearance that makes it easier to see different ranges of smaller nuances and background information. The healthy grain exposure strengthens fluidity as well. As a result, the light smearing that is noticeable on the previous presentation is completely eliminated. (For what it's worth, without the scanner noise the old master could have produced very good visuals. Not excellent, but very, very good). Color balance is convincing. It is very similar to that of the previous presentation, but with meaningful improvements that affect saturation levels of select primaries and nuances. Image stability is excellent. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. I noticed a few tiny blemishes and scratches, but there are not distracting large debris, cuts, marks, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Killer Nun Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 and Italian LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH (for the English track) and English (for the Italian track) subtitles are provided.

I viewed Killer Nun with the English track. However, in the past, I have also viewed it with the Italian track. Both tracks feature original overdubbing and in some areas synchronicity is a bit loose. Clarity and sharpness are good. Dynamic intensity is modest, but this is an inherited limitation as well. I did not encounter any distortions, pops, audio dropouts, etc.

Killer Nun Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• God is the Drug - in this recent program, director Giulio Berruti discusses his family history, his work as a film editor and how it helped him to become a director, his anti-religious feelings and experiments with drugs, and the production of Killer Nun. Also, Mr. Berruti shares a lot of very interesting information about the casting of Anita Ekberg, her attitude toward nudity and religion, the casting of Lou Castel, and the special effects that were used during some of the most graphic material, as well as the censorship of Killer Nun. (Particular scenes are highlighted and their symbolism addressed. The controversial promotional materials for the film are brought up as well). The program was produced by Federico Caddeo for Freak-O-Rama in 2021. In Italian, with English subtitles. (45 min).

• After La Dolce Vita - in this archival interview, Anita Ekberg recalls when and why she agreed to do her character in Killer Nun, and discusses the true story that inspired the film and the drama that is at the center of it. Mrs. Ekberg also addresses the decision to dub her voice in the film. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Rachel Nisbet.

• Cover - reversible cover with original Italian poster art for Killer Nun.

Killer Nun Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"All of Almodovar's early films are about nuns. My film about nuns was long before Almodovar, and I feel I was ahead of my time. I identify with Almodovar. Because he was always funny, never really cruel." This fascinating confession from director Giulio Berruti appears in an outstanding recent program that is included on Shameless Entertainment's release of his once quite controversial film Killer Nun, which was fully restored in 2K. I have always had a copy of Killer Nun in my library because it does have an intriguing, more serious side, perhaps with some Almodovar-esque qualities too, as Berruti suggests. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.