Inferno in diretta

Fine action film from Italian Ruggero Deodato that features a great cast of American stars - well you know what I mean when I say stars. I was fortunate enough to see the uncut version under the title AMAZONIA LA JUNGLE BLANCHE - although it was in French with no subtitles, I still enjoyed it though. Claudio Simonetti's bombastic score is a real treat and needs a CD release. Look out for the Anchor Bay DVD release due out sometime in 2002 - Uncut and Widescreen with an interview with good old Ruggero.

I held off seeing this movie until I was able to get the full-length version with all the blood and guts that were cut out of the original American release. The gore sequences are spectacular at times, and they also contain some information that makes the movie easier to follow than in the cut version.

Other than that, though, there's really nothing about the movie that's compelling. The story is really boring, slow-moving, and with some plot points that remain murky despite the added footage. The action sequences, minus the gore, are unimaginative and barely can be considered "action". The protagonists are a snotty bunch that seem to have little brain material in their heads. Fans of Richard Lynch and Michael Berryman will be most disappointed; these two actors only appear for a few minutes each!

From Ruggero Deodato, the infamous director of "Cannibal Holocaust", comes this return to gory and sadistic jungle-based goings-on. It's an interesting mixture of the Italian jungle genre (albeit without cannibalism), drug-based action pictures, and blood and guts horror. Overall, it doesn't make nearly the same impact as "Cannibal Holocaust", but it's still a solid diversion for any cult movie lover who is into this sort of thing.

Lisa Blount and Leonard Mann play reporter Fran Hudson and her cameraman Mark Ludman, who are hot on the trail of a story involving wars between competing drug cartels. They come to realize that a man named Brian Horne (Richard Lynch) is involved. It turns out Horne was a prominent associate of the notorious cult leader Jim Jones. Fran and Mark are also trying to find Tommy Allo (Willie Aames), son of their boss Bob (Richard Bright); Tommy has been prisoner to one of these cartels for some time.

As you can see, there are a fair amount of familiar American actors in this rousing bit of entertainment. Karen Black makes a "special appearance", a young Eriq La Salle plays an informant, and the legendary cult actor Michael Berryman turns up repeatedly as a relentless and REALLY nasty white henchman. His scenes tend to be the most fun. Blount doesn't look too happy to be here, and Aames is too whiny and annoying, but the rest of the cast do some good work. Sexy Valentina Forte, Deodatos' girlfriend at the time, exploitation veteran John Steiner, Barbara Magnolfi ("Suspiria"), and Ottaviano Dell'Acqua (the worm eye zombie in "Zombi 2") co-star.

One gory highlight involves a person being ripped in half. The location shooting adds a lot of atmosphere. And ever reliable Claudio Simonetti of the groups Goblin and Daemonia composed the groovy music score.

Not too memorable once it's over, but it does hold ones' attention.

Seven out of 10.

Cut and Run is one of Deodato's strangest films due to the bizarre mix of genres. The film balances horror, action and adventure elements with gritty cocaine smuggling and hostage situation subplots. There is even an Apocalypse Now inspired crazy Colonel living with natives in the jungle. To say that the film bites off more than it can chew is an understatement, but that the fact that the film works at all is a great testament to Deodato's unique talent.

There is little point passing comment on the film's plot because it virtually makes no sense. There is, for example, no explanation at how the Indian killings in the Amazon jungle simultaneously take place in Miami and the entire subplot involving Colonel Horne remains a mystery. The jumbled plot does have the advantage of giving Deodato the opportunity to dabble in different genres and he shows yet again why he is such an underrated filmmaker. Deodato's direction is technically brilliant and he brings his usual sense of flair to the film's action and horror set pieces. The dramatic moments are less successfully handled and unusually for a Deodato film, some sentimentality creeps in towards the end of the film.

The film really picks up every time the Indians attack. Horror fans might be annoyed by the infrequency of the gore, but when the killings do occur, Deodato does not disappoint. There are beheadings, spears through the neck, darts in the neck and one of Deodato's best ever deaths when a man is literally ripped limb from limb (according to Deodato, inspired by the Vietcong). Part of the fun is watching legendary genre actor Michael Berryman camping it up as a demented Indian. He has several great moments in what is one of his more memorable roles. The other actors are also pretty good. Lisa Blount makes an impression as Fran and Richard Lynch always does a good job of acting crazy, making a perfect Colonel Horne.

Also worth a mention are Claudio Simonetti's great synth score and the beautiful photography of the jungle landscape (Venezuela doubling for Colombia). Fans of Deodato should check out the accompanying "Uncut and Run" documentary in which Deodato rather amusingly talks about the shoot, stealing Wes Craven's job as the director and even bluntly says which actors he did not enjoy working with. Cut and Run might lack cohesion but it remains a highly enjoyable minor work from a truly great director.

"Cannibal Holocaust"(1979)is one of my favourite horror movies ever.It's truly a masterpiece of gut-wrenching horror.In comparison to it "Cut and Run" is rather tame,but it features some nasty scenes of violence like where one guy is cut in half by the jungle trap.Sure,it's brutal but not as nasty as "Cannibal Holocaust" or even "Jungle Holocaust"(1978).There's no animal cruelty or sexual violence(apart from the rape scene near the beginning),but the action is fast-paced,the acting is decent enough(I love especially the performance by Michael Berryman-this guy is creepy!)and the script by Cesare Frugone and Dardano Sacchetti is fairly good.So if you like violent and sleazy action give this one a look,just don't expect another "Cannibal Holocaust".7 out of 10.