Such a killer giallo! Probably one of my favorite. Great music, great suspense, great cinematography, and a great killer. It's also a proto-slasher, which gives it even more clout. Strange that when people talk about the origins of the slasher film, they often cite things like Halloween or Black Christmas, or if they dig deeper Psycho or Peeping Tom, but for some odd reason this one is rarely brought up, even though it's very clear to have inspired many elements of that genre.

Another sleazy but suspenseful giallo from Sergio Martino that is ahead of its time in certain regards, as many tropes that would become mainstay hallmarks of 80s American slashers can be found in this film. It's easy to recommend this film because of how straightforward and easy to follow it is, even by giallo standards. It's quite refreshing to see one without a convoluted plot built on layers and layers of confusing characters and motivations. Though it has all those elements you'd expect for a majority of its running time, it becomes much more of a home invasion/slasher and an effective one at that. There's this realistic feel to the tense situations that you don't commonly see in standard gialli that really puts you on the edge of your seat.

My exposure to the giallo genre has been limited so far. In that sense, "Torso," which is considered an absolute classic of the genre, is certainly a good place to start. What surprised me right away, though, is how restrained the film is in its gore—it’s actually on the tamer side in that regard. On the other hand, director Sergio Martino doesn’t skimp on scenes featuring naked women. At times, this almost veers into softcore territory, but then again, giallo films do have a certain sleazy image anyway. That said, one shouldn’t overlook the fact that the film is otherwise of quite decent quality. The varied Italian locations are interestingly captured. And the final third, in particular, is extremely effective at building suspense. The characters could certainly have used a bit more depth, but anyone who’s a fan of American slasher films should definitely give "Torso" a shot.

Torso is Sergio Martino's masterpiece, and is just as much a slasher as it is a giallo. Beautifully shot, excellent tension building, great cast, visceral kills, and one of the absolute best last acts of any films, makes it unforgettable. The highlight is yet again the leading lady. Suzy Kendall has one of the most exquisitely expressive faces you'll ever find, and suits the role perfectly. Torso is a must-see for fans of the genre, and I love it!!!