Beast with a Gun

For the time , it is an extremely violent film, Tarentino-like style ,with plenty of murders and rapes ; the director knows only one tempo :accelerated ,and Helmut Berger ,who had not forgotten his master Visconti's lessons is fascinating,terrifying ,almost without overplaying . His opponent , the cop played by Richard Harrison (in the sixties a habitué of sword and sandals and eurospy cheap flicks),is not really up to scratch opposite him ;the same can be said of ill-fated Marisa Mell .

This thriller includes melodrama elements : the killer's sister and the cop's father and young sister are involved ;but it's Berger who saves the film :cold,sadistic to the umpteenth degree , ruthless; too bad he never found another Visconti because he deserved better.

Beast with a Gun is a gritty and unapologetic crime thriller that doesn't pull any punches. Sergio Grieco's direction captures the raw brutality of the criminal underworld, and Helmut Berger's portrayal of Nanni Vitali is chillingly convincing. The film doesn't shy away from depicting violence, making it a visceral experience for viewers.

The supporting cast also delivers solid performances. Marisa Mell as Giuliana Caroli adds vulnerability to the mix, while Marina Giordana's Carla Santini provides a glimpse into the human cost of Vitali's rampage. Richard Harrison's portrayal of Inspector Santini adds a layer of determination to the cat-and-mouse game.

The film's soundtrack, punctuated by intense moments, heightens the tension. Grieco's use of visuals-such as the gas station scene-creates a sense of impending doom. However, the plot occasionally veers into predictable territory, and some character motivations remain underdeveloped.

Nanni Vitali, a no-count killer with a penchant for violence, forms an unholy alliance with three equally brutal hoodlums. Together, they embark on a savage spree of rape, murder, and robbery. Their actions leave a trail of blood and fear in their wake.

Verdict: For fans of gritty Italian poliziotteschi films, Beast with a Gun offers a brutal and intense ride. While it may not reach the heights of cinematic masterpieces, it remains a cult classic worth exploring. Just be prepared for a visceral journey into the dark heart of criminality.

He's mean! He's profane! He's armed and extremely dangerous! His name is Nanni Vitali (Helmut Berger), and he's a one-man hit squad! Boiling over with bitterness and vengeance over his time in prison, Vitali sets out on a mission to destroy those whom he deems responsible.

Anyone in his way will be raped, murdered, or both.

BEAST WITH A GUN is a nasty bit of crime-drama cinema in keeping with similar Italian films of the period. Berger plays his vicious role with gusto. He's pretty scary!

Co-stars the breathtakingly gorgeous Marisa Mell...

You can't get much cooler than an Italian crime film, and Beast With a Gun is yet another excellent example of this cult sub-genre! The film is quite a lot nastier than the majority of Italian crime films that I've seen, and at times it feels like it owes a lot to the exploitation genre! Naturally, there's the usual array of fistfights, shootouts and car chases; but here we've also got rapes and scenes of torture - among other stuff. So Beast With a Gun might not be everyone's cup of tea - but I think most people would agree that the nasty edge certainly gives the film a bit more 'bite'! The film begins with the escape of three nasty convicts. Their leader is a man named Nanni Vitali, and their first port of call after escaping from jail is killing the dirty scumbag that turned them in. However, when they catch up with him; Nanni takes a shine to his girlfriend, and proceeds to brutally rape her before killing the snitch. He also wants the girl to help them pull off a robbery; and she agrees to help them, but not before telling the police all about it...

The main strength that this film has is undoubtedly Helmut Berger. Berger is absolutely spot on with his role as the nasty criminal at the centre of the tale, and every moment he's on screen is completely gripping. He is joined by experienced Eurocult actress Marisa Mell, who provides the eye candy in style! Richard Harrison rounds off the central cast with the token 'cop' role and like his co-stars - plays it well. Beast With a Gun also features an excellent soundtrack, which goes well with the film and definitely adds to every scene it features in. Realism obviously wasn't big on director Sergio Grieco's priority list, however, as the film features numerous instances that don't make a lot of sense - the scene that springs to mind instantly is the one where a certain female cast member is shot in the leg...and then instantly diagnoses it as 'not serious' and barely bats an eyelid! I've got to say, if I got shot it would be VERY SERIOUS, no matter where it got me. However, this isn't important as Beast With a Gun does the important thing - that being entertain the audience - very well, and fans of Italian crime films won't want to miss it!

Helmut Berger gives a gritty performance as a sadistic killer. Unfortunately there are two kinds of punishment being dished out, Helmut's and that which the audience must suffer. The police work in "Beast With a Gun" is mortally laughable, and the stilted dialog in the dubbed version rivals that in the worst "Godzilla" movie. Berger's deranged killer, and a nice Morricone-like score save this from being just another Italian crime flick. So, if you can throw logic out the window, cringe a bit with each spoken word, and suspend disbelief, you might be ready to watch this gloriously sleazy tale of robbery, rape, and revenge. - MERK