Review of Death Rage (1976) by Unca C — 26 Apr 2006

Well, still trying to wash the dirt off from watching "Naked Massacre"...

Now up, "Death Rage".

Seems somebody killed Yul Brenner's brother and now Yul's got a bone to pick with the mob that killed him. Of course, you couldn't tell in the beginning. We don't see Yul until minute 10.

There's a lot of action in this flick. Good. Nothing like some cinema violence to cleanse the mind (yeah, I know: that makes no sense). The New York mob decides that the only way to bring down a rival Italian mob is to sic Yul Brenner on them.

Finally, Yul enters the picture and learns that the Italian mob boss ordered the hit on his brother. Next thing - BAM - he's in Naples. At least the movie's to the point.

Martin Balsam is also in the flick as an Italian police commissioner - no, don't worry he doesn't have an Italian accent. Yul also he finds himself saddled with Angelo (Massimo Ranieri), a guy who likes to fix races using a rifle and then cops part of the winning pot - also he seems to know quite a bit about the Italian mob. They are then joined by Anny (Barbara Bouchet), a burlesque dancer/stripper who steals Brenner's heart (or at least another part of his anatomy).

Action abounds in this flick as Yul is constantly chased by the Italian mob and is equally taking on the mob on his terms. Plus, the Italians try to take out Yul in inventive ways (eg: acid in the eyedrops). The mob also takes out it's own guys to prevent them from squealing.

There's also a nice bit where Yul tells Ranieri the logic of an assassin.

Yul looks as cool a customer as ever. His screen presence is intimidating and as good as an actor as there ever was. Martin Balsam doesn't have enough to do here, but is passable as the cop trying to play both sides (the mob & Yul). Ranieri does a decent enough job (dubbing and all). Barbara Bouchet provides stunning eyecandy to keep us occupied - she is definitely comfortable with her body and reveals it to great effect.

Granted the movie's plot kind of wanders around without much direction, but it's functional. The dubbing is poor (as usual in Italian films), but doesn't hinder the film either.

[b][i][u]Fun rating:[/u][/i][/b] 9 - mindless guy movie fun. Great car chase sequence thru the streets of Naples. A beautiful nude Bouchet. Steely-eyed Yul Brenner. This is the type of flick you watch to feel good about your maleness.

[b][i][u]Interest rating:[/u][/i][/b] 7 - worth on the cheap. A tighter plot and better dubbing would have made this more noteworthy. Guys will like this flick. Ladies - um, not so much. Action fans will enjoy. This is one of those flicks that you can probably watch over again for Ms. Bouchet and Yul Brenner acting tough.

[b][i][u]TOTAL RATING:[/u][/i][/b] 8.