Mark Turner Arrow Video has allowed fans of the giallo genre the chance to finally see movies that most of us never had the chance to when they were initially released. Sure major cities might have offered these films at the time but widespread release across the county was unheard of. The invention of home video changed that and DVD has increased the offerings. But few companies have taken the genre to the levels that Arrow Video has. This shows once more with their release of THE CASE OF THE SCORPION'S TAIL.In London Lisa Baumer (Ida Galli) is an unfaithful wife meeting with her lover whose wealthy husband Kurt dies in an exploding plane on his way to Japan. She becomes the sole beneficiary of his insurance policy of $1 million dollars and problems begin. They start with an ex-love and junkie who blackmails her with the threat of exposing her to the insurance company for wishing her husband dead. Meeting him later to pay him off she finds him murdered. Heading to Greece to avoid problems she followed by Peter Lynch (George Hilton), an investigator for the insurance company following up any loose ends on the case. While thinking she left behind her problems in London it isn't long before Lisa finds more in Greece. They begin with Lara Florakis (Janine Reynaud), a woman who claims to be Kurt's mistress who he planned on leaving Lisa for. She demands that Lisa split to money with her or she'll contest his will. To help convince Lisa she has a stiletto carrying "lawyer" named Sharif on hand. Lisa escapes with the help of Peter who was following her.Attempting to avoid any more confrontations Lisa asks for the settlement in cash and then books a flight to Tokyo. Before she can fly out a mysterious masked killer complete with trademark giallo black gloves enters her hotel room, kills her and takes the money. Enter Police Inspector Stavros (Luigi Pistilli) and Interpol agent John Stanley (Alberto De Mendoza) who'd been watching Lisa since her arrival. As they begin to investigate her murder their main suspect is Peter.Covering the story of the murder is reporter Cléo Dupont (Anita Strindberg). Meeting with Peter she tries to find out what he knows and it isn't long before the pair fall into bed together and become lovers. But more bodies begin to turn up. First off is Lara who is attacked by the same gloved figure that killed Lisa. Her "lawyer" also falls to the hands of the killer. As the bodies begin to pile up suspicion remains on Peter in spite of the fact there could be others behind it all. And an attack on Cléo seems to clear Peter. What of the boyfriend Lisa had in London? Or could her husband have faked his own death? What makes this movie work so well is less the typical giallo staples like the gloved hand, the knife wielding killer or the murderous intent of seemingly everyone involved. It works well as a mystery first and foremost with clues provided throughout to direct the viewer to the films conclusion. Each is meticulously placed in a well written screenplay that doesn't get caught up in pop culture like some in the genre tend to, instead sticking with story.For once the acting on display loses nothing in translation. All involved perform for the camera and for the written word they were provided. No flamboyant gestures or wasted words here, everything in its place and adhered to. Each one makes their character believable and no one attempts taking over the screen are seen here.The cinematography is also well done with beautiful locations shots coupled with well-lit interiors and street shots throughout. The composition of shot also works well and shows that director Sergio Martino and cinematographer Giorgio Bertolini worked well together to focus on the story visually as well as through the written word provided by Eduardo Manzanos, Ernesto Gastaldi and Sauro Scavolini. As I said at the start, Arrow has been bringing a number of these well know and not so well known giallo films to blu-ray and every time a new one is announced I find myself waiting with anticipation. It's not just the fact that they're becoming available but that Arrow is the one bringing them out. They continue to offer the films with not just the best looking versions of them found but with plenty of extras on hand that add to the film rather than interfere with it. I'm not one to watch a lot of extras finding most to be little more than promotional pieces put together by corporate entities that want to increase sales by adding the standard Q&A with the stars. Arrow goes far beyond that making their extras as interesting to watch as the film itself.So let's look at what they're offering here. To begin with the disc is a new 4k restoration of the film from the original camera negative. This provides viewers with that exceptional look that I discussed earlier. Extras abound with the following: an audio commentary track with writer Ernesto Gastaldi moderated by filmmaker Federico Caddeo in Italian with English subtitles, a new interview with George Hilton, a new interview with director Sergio Martino, a new analysis of the Sergio Martino's films by Mikel J. Koven who wrote "La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film", a new video essay by Troy Howarth the author of "So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films", the theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon and for the first pressing only an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Rachael Nisbet and Howard Hughes and a biography of star Anita Strindberg by Peter Jilmstad. As I said, Arrow continues to give more than expected. Some might think that the only people who would find this film worth watching are fans of European films and giallo films in particular. They'd be completely wrong. The movie works on so many levels and those who love a good mystery would be well served by seeing this one. Martino is hailed as one of the masters of the giallo genre and it's easy to see why. For those unexposed to the genre they couldn't pick a better place to start and this Arrow version is the best way to do so.

Bezenby This film has near enough all the trademarks of a standard Giallo: a black gloved killer, Euro-babes, gore, red herrings, exotic locations, set-piece murders, J&B whiskey, creepy dolls, semi-effective policing. That said, it uses all these trademarks in the best way and although it starts off slowly, it very quickly becomes a standout.A thin lady (Ida Galli) is meeting her lover while her husband is boarding a plane to go on a business trip. She's in the middle of a nudie session when the plane (a cheap toy one!) explodes, and due to her husband's death she now obtains a million pounds in insurance money. Before she goes, some junky boyfriend tries blackmailing her with a letter that could suggest that she wanted to kill her husband for the money, but luckily for her someone stabs him in the guts before he can do anything.Ida heads for Greece, where the money is waiting for her, along with George Hilton, who has been hired by the insurance company to make sure everything is legit, and he's being followed by an interpol agent, plus the local police (led by Luigi Pistilli) are also involved, and if that's not enough, her husband's mistress and her thug sidekick also want a cut of the money too! That's a lot of characters – if only some insane person would simplify things by thinning out the ranks a little.The trouble with Gialli is that describing the plot kind of diminishes the impact of the film, so I won't say any more about what happens plot wise, but one character is brutally murdered, things kick into high gear and no one is safe. There's little time for dull spots in this one as the killer goes head to head with most of the characters, some of which put up a fight, including one who manages to get the knife off the killer only to receive a broken bottle to the eye for their trouble. Took me surprise, that bit. In fact, although pretty fake looking, there's plenty of gore in this film (I think the cheapness just adds to the charm to be honest). This is a solid Giallo with many twists, red herrings and quirks right up to the end, and Sergio Martino would give us other classics like The Strange Case of Mrs Wardh (also with Hilton) and Torso (not with Hilton). I have watched Your Vice is a Locked Room And Only I Have the Key yet, but it's got Edwidge Fenech in it so it's probably a safe bet.

christopher-underwood A fine Martino outing, this is a spirited and enjoyable giallo with fine performances from good looking cast and principally the two leads, George Hilton and Anita Strindberg.For me the jig-saw puzzle of a plot is so convoluted and confusing you just sit back and enjoy rather than try to anticipate. Just when all seems resolved we are again taken on a further series of twists, enjoyable twists, it has to be said.Sexy with plenty of gory kills this a well paced movie with London, Athens and Greek coastal locations. A super finale set upon Aegean rocks wraps things up and much fun was had by all.

EVOL666 I've lately been going back and trying to check out some giallo films that I missed over the years, and the boxset that contains Sergio Martino's THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH, YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED ROOM AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY, and THE CASE OF THE SCORPION'S TAIL were recommended by a friend. I really enjoyed STRANGE VICE, and YOUR VICE - not so much with SCORPION'S TAIL. Not that it was a terrible film or anything, it just wasn't as enjoyable as the two previous entries in my opinion.SCORPION'S TAIL starts off with a widow inheriting $1 million from the death of her husband who died in a somewhat mysterious airplane explosion. After the widow is murdered and the money stolen, a reporter, an insurance investigator, and the police are all on the cast to try and nab the culprit/culprits. Among the suspects are the insurance investigator himself, the wife (until she bites it at least...) and one of the husband's mistresses and her lawyer/"bodyguard". Who really hatched the plan if there really was a plan at all? That's the question. Too bad the answer isn't all that satisfying...Again, SCORPION'S TAIL isn't a terrible film, it just lacks some of the better elements that Martino's superior films have. Both STRANGE VICE and YOUR VICE have better twists and story-lines. There are one or two decent kill scenes in SCORPION'S TAIL, but almost no nudity which was also disappointing. Recommended for hardcore giallo fans - others should seek out Martino's two aforementioned films and leave this one for a rainy day. 6/10