Torso

R

1973

1h 30m

Horror

List

56%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

55%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

A hooded killer with a hacksaw stalks college coeds (Suzy Kendall, Tina Aumont).

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

The near universality of male errancy in Torso certainly makes it difficult to guess the identity of the killer - but it also points to another message in Martino's work, inscribed expressionistically by men on the bodies of women.

Aug 28, 2017

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

Pales next to director Sergio Martino's more inventive sleaze-thrillers.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 28, 2009

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Both stylish and suspenseful, although it's pretty obvious who's responsible almost from the beginning.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 26, 2021

Full Review

Gabriel Ricard

Cultured Vultures

While maybe not the masterpiece Tarantino thinks it is, Torso is nonetheless entertaining for just about the whole of its running time.

Rated: 7/10

Oct 30, 2019

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Turner Classic Movies Online

The motivation is right out of the Psycho playbook, only not quite as convincing.

Dec 17, 2011

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

a gory giallo that pushes all the right buttons, but never quite works until the final third

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 27, 2011

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Brad P

Torso plays like a proto-slasher while also utilizing signposts endemic to the giallo genre.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/01/23

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jonathan b

Torso is one of the more sensationalised Italian Giallos but also the prototype for all American slasher movies that would arrive 6 years later (with Halloween). While it's definitely tamer on gore than most slashers, the sexuality is amped up to 11. The final 20 minutes are some of the best that horror cinema has to offer.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

marco b

Italian art history students start getting murdered by a killer obsessed with the vision of a doll. Though somewhat original and suspenseful, nothing really comes of the story. Dead brother, blackmail, blahblahblah.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'm a little late to the game when it comes to director Sergio Martino, who I was really only familiar with for his 80s Max Max ripoff movies, which were enjoyable if nothing exceptional (personally, I have the unpopular opinion that the Filipino Mad Max knockoffs by Cirio H. Santiago are the best of the low budget warriors of the wasteland flicks), but this Giallo/proto-slasher is pretty entertaining. It's a familiar set-up of a hooded killer strangling pretty college girls. Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth count this film among their favorites, but I'm not sure it quite grabbed me the same way. For Italian body-count proto-slashers I prefer Mario Bava's "Blood and Black Lace" but the mystery here is actually pretty good and the kills in the film are scary and at times shocking, which you'd expect from a 70s Giallo, so it's satisfying in that respect. Overall, it's not as smart or as elegant as Martino's "Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key" but it's never boring. Recommended for fans of these sorts of film. Others might want to pass.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

That is such a 70s exploitation start - writhing naked bodies, breasts, doll's heads and a clicking camera. There are black gloves - but this is slasher - strangles with a black and red scarf, strips the woman's body to the waist and carves them up. A lesser Italian of the period - lots of style and bare-chested women, odd hippie bits, but style over substance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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kevin c

A lustful serial killer who's victims are all beautiful college girls targets a group of girls who are spending the weekend in a hilltop chalet. Directed by Sergio Martino, this is equal parts sexy and brutally violent. The Italian backdrop acts as a quiet character itself which adds to the beauty of the film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Sergio Martino

Director

Suzy Kendall

Jane

Tina Aumont

Daniela

Luc Merenda

Roberto

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Synopsis

A hooded killer with a hacksaw stalks college coeds (Suzy Kendall, Tina Aumont).

Director: Sergio Martino
Production Co: Compagnia Cinematografica Champion
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 9, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m

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