ernesti I had never seen such a fine giallo made by Lenzi, all his other work that i had seen had been rather goofy or just uninteresting but this piece is just wonderful. Many Italian directors certainly knew how to create suspense in the old Italian films and this is no different. It's dreamlike, so surreal that nothing is clear and the secrets are revealed in the end. I like the cinematography and the way the story's told that it's in no way dull and obvious, it kept me guessing all the time and i didn't get most of ideas right at all so i guess it makes it a great movie.The incoherency at times is part of the mystery of course but some people just can't handle it and think of it as a bad thing. I can recommend this to people who like a good mystery and old movies in general. Also fans of giallo won't be disappointed.

Lee Eisenberg Umberto Lenzi's "Spasmo" is not really a horror movie as much as a psychological thriller. There's minimal violence, instead focusing on the main character's (Robert Hoffmann) descent into confusion. But as Lenzi explained in an interview, he had the flick turn out as it does to demonstrate how sick Italy's elites are. Like Lenzi's earlier "Orgasmo" (retitled "Paranoia" in the US), "Spasmo" shows that all is not what it seems in this supposedly nice group of people. Still, the sequence of events leading up to that have some pretty neat occurrences. I will say that I liked "Orgasmo" better (partially for the scene of Carroll Baker in the shower), but this one is definitely worth seeing. Also starring Suzy Kendall, Ivan Rassimov and Guido Alberti.

dbdumonteil We feel the Argento influence all along the viewing,but "spasmo" in spite of a low budget and mediocre actors -with the eventual exception of Ivan Rassimov- is a good thriller,absorbing ,nay original: I dare you to guess what the hero is really up to.When he appears he seems to be a handsome young man ,sure of himself and of his charm but little by little,cracks appear in the mirror.The character's evolution is anything but predictable.There'salso his brother who is widely talked about,but who only appears after one hour.The traditional flashbacks are replaced by a home-made movie where Lenzi films the looks -sometimes we do not know whose look it is anymore:Christian?Fritz?.And the last picture is really scary ,without any blood at that.Some of its scenes predate "fight club" and the industrial landscape with its sinister factory gives goose flesh.Perhaps in the first minutes ,you may feel like giving up.Don't.It's a film which grows on you.

christopher-underwood 'Stylish and compelling giallo with the crap dialogue and insignificant close-ups more than compensated for by the fine Morricone score and lots of surprises. Mad or being driven mad is the central question in this constantly on the move, bewildering tale told mainly in the Italian sunshine. The fiercely erotic mannequins/dolls are a bonus.' This is what I wrote after seeing the movie for the first time on video some time ago and I see little reason to change my remarks except perhaps to qualify the 'giallo' reference for it barely seems to fulfil the criteria. Still it is good fun, I had forgotten the twists and really liked the way the montage of killings suddenly hits.