Just a shout-out to anyone tempted by Shameless's release of THE 10TH VICTIM (1965, original title La decima vittima), an Italian science fiction film adaptation of a Robert Sheckley novel. They've made this look like a good "hunting humans" thriller by the cover and write-up, perhaps an early forerunner to BATTLE ROYALE, TURKEY SHOOT or THE HUNGER GAMES. But it's not. It has a great set-up and a handful of fun, groovy action scenes as everyday situations are interrupted by a couple of figures running in to engage in gun battles, but in the end this turns out to be more like a romantic comedy!
It's a colourful, bright and vivid film with style to spare, camp in the same way as BARBARELLA or other fare from the era. Lots of stand-out fashion and interesting faces in the form of Marcello Mastroianni and SHE starlet Ursula Andress. Even an advertising campaign for 'Ming Tea', later borrowed by Mike Mikers for an AUSTIN POWERS song. The set-up and first half is engaging and sells this dystopian future well, but once the hunter and victim meet, it stalls and gets less interesting, still typically Italian but with less bite and visceral impact. Almost a battle of sexes in the end, but missing the danger we felt at the outset. Only a 5/10 from me.
It's a colourful, bright and vivid film with style to spare, camp in the same way as BARBARELLA or other fare from the era. Lots of stand-out fashion and interesting faces in the form of Marcello Mastroianni and SHE starlet Ursula Andress. Even an advertising campaign for 'Ming Tea', later borrowed by Mike Mikers for an AUSTIN POWERS song. The set-up and first half is engaging and sells this dystopian future well, but once the hunter and victim meet, it stalls and gets less interesting, still typically Italian but with less bite and visceral impact. Almost a battle of sexes in the end, but missing the danger we felt at the outset. Only a 5/10 from me.