Spasmo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Spasmo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 15, 2015

1974’s “Spasmo” is a film about madness, and it successfully makes the viewer feel insane while watching it. Directed by Umberto Lenzi, the feature delves into acts murder and paranoia, with lines of reality blurred in a manner that reflects the characters and their concerns, and also the era in which the movie was made, finding sexuality head-spinningly random and motivations more of a puzzle than just pure cinematic escalation.

Lenzi isn’t lost with “Spasmo,” but much of the film plays like his personal playground, almost afraid to let the viewer in on the fun. The story isn’t impossible to crack, but characterizations are fuzzy to preserve the final stings of this giallo, working through brain-bending turns and inscrutable behavior before a degree of clarity is offered. Style is where the feature shines, watching Lenzi go zoom-happy with camerawork, while areas of unease are preserved with mannequin imagery, giving “Spasmo” an air of unreality as it details crimes and sickness with surprising leisure.

Spasmo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation has been spiffed up for this BD release, displaying refreshed colors that capably bring out period ornamentation and bloodletting, with healthy primaries looking secure. Sharpness is reasonable with this style of cinematography, delivering adequate detail with facial close-ups and location highlights, though some degree of filtering is present to help with consistency and intensity. Delineation has its challenges, with lower-lit excursions showing solidification. Print is in agreeable shape, without overt damage spots. Also included is an "Unfixed" version for those who enjoy raw transfers.

Spasmo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is problematic, beginning with uneven levels that appear to fluctuate with reel changes. Quiet passages are disappointing, weakening the score's intensity and diluting the picture's hold on suspense. Louder segments are obviously better, but they reveal a degree of distortion when dialogue exchanges reach a more feverish range. Hiss and crackling can be heard throughout the entire listening experience.

Spasmo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (13:13, SD) with director Umberto Lenzi discusses the legacy of "Spasmo," and how the helmer worked to avoid clichés when building his own giallo. Lenzi is a tad temperamental, but he's informative, sharing his intent and feelings about George Romero, who shot gory footage without Lenzi's permission to beef up the feature's American release. A date for the conversation isn't given, but Lenzi has strong opinions about the picture's VHS release, which is a good indicator how long ago this chat took place.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:13, HD) is included.

Spasmo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Spasmo" isn't a strong film, perhaps too caught up in its own sense of ambiguity to truly provide surges in terror and intrigue. It's well acted and sharply imagined, with a handful of effective scenes that blend delirium with melodrama, delivering the tone Lenzi is pursuing throughout the picture. It's not consistent work, with the story periodically lost in full to iffy directorial impulses, but "Spasmo" is interesting, which is pretty much a victory in this temperamental subgenre.