For those of you out there that are James Bond fans like I am, you will likely get a bit excited about this one. As I was doing some research on gialli a few weeks back, I stumbled upon 1971’s The Black Belly of the Tarantula, directed by Paolo Cavara. Featuring an intriguing cast for Bond afficionados, Giancarlo Giannini (Rene Mathis in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace), Claudine Auger (Domino in Thunderball), Barbara Bouchet (Moneypenny in the quirky 1967 version of Casino Royale) and Barbara Bach (Maj. Anya Amasova/Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me) all star in this thriller, a unique cast ranging from the movies of Connery and Moore, to Craig and spoof spinoff.
Oh, the horror, the horror: a sadistic, psychopathic serial killer, never truly seen (for the longest time, we only view his or her hands – always porting surgical gloves that make them look like plastic), is killing women by way of a most gruesome process. Utilizing acupuncture needles that are tainted with a poison that paralyses the target. . . the victims are poked in the back of the neck – still awake, eyes open wide in fear, they are unable to do anything as the murderer finishes them off in the most macabre ways.
Tasked with the disturbing file is Inspector Tellini (Giancarlo Giannini), a man struggling to find any confidence in his abilities. Despite doubting his skills, he forces himself forward – his supportive wife Anna (Stefania Sandrelli) helps as he enters the labyrinthine spider web of a case. Though the prime suspect seems to be the ex-husband of the genesis murder, Paolo Zani (Silvano Tranquilli). . . especially as he has disappeared after being interviewed by the police (and told not to leave the city), nothing is cut and dry.
Soon, another woman is killed in the same manner, though there seems to be no connection between the two victims. . . managing a posh clothing store (eerily filled with mannequins), the police promptly discover that she was actually a drug dealer.
Yet, this is only the beginning, as sex plays a part. Not only is there a nymphomaniac, Maria (Barbara Bouchet), who fits into the sordid plot, there is also a mysterious photographer, Mario (Giancarlo Prete), a man who uses his skills to blackmail those he stalks – whether they are having an affair or not.
On another front, there is a high-end private ladies’ club that somehow fits into the puzzle. Managed by Laura (Claudine Auger), she seems to know something, much like one of her masseuses, Jenny (Barbara Bach).
With enough red herrings to serve a table of twelve, The Black Belly of the Tarantula follows in the vein of Dario Argento’s 1970 giallo The Bird With The Crystal Plumage, in that it too has a twisty, animal related title – this time, a reference to the ways tarantulas are killed by black wasps. . . it is clearly symbolic of the acts perpetrated by the murderer. With the story coming from one of La Cage Aux Folles’ scribes, Marcello Danon, it is multi-layered, each character and new sub-plot adding to the intrigue and aura. Though I was very quick in correctly predicting the ending (after binging on numerous gialli), it will likely keep most guessing, director Cavara’s skill evident in the way the story is pieced together. Likewise, it is not just his use of strikingly lurid colours or the perturbingly creative and disturbing use of violence, but also the unique visuals that transcend the giallo. At one point, there is a chase scene (in which the Inspector falls way behind two others), and instead of shooting both separately, Cavara places Tellini in the forefront of a giant building, capturing the other two running on the rooftop in the background – it is a truly impressive sequence.
Of equal importance is icon Ennio Morricone’s flavourful score. With a piano driven main theme that straddles romantic and ominous, it hauntingly features vocalists exhaling, adding a breathy sigh (or is it the last exhale of one of the victims?). This is only one small portion of the dynamic composition, music that is of the utmost importance to the mood and tone of the picture.
Filmed on location in Rome, Italy, The Black Belly of the Tarantula is a slightly lesser known, though no less important giallo. Featuring a superlative cast (that will appeal to all – not just Bond connoisseurs), lurid plot points, fascinating visuals, and a scrumptious soundtrack, this sinuous, many legged feature will keep you on your toes. So, don’t turn a blind eye on this film, as it is most definitely not undesirable – though it may leave you paralysed in fear.