Plot: What’s it about?
Luca di Angelo (Fabio Testi) works as part of a cigarette smuggling operation, which means he lives a dangerous lifestyle. This is because he is involved in the Naples underground, which is a violent atmosphere loaded with tension, distrust, and short tempers. Even so, Luca doesn’t fit the usual mold for these criminals, as he is a devoted husband and he loves his family more than life itself. This intense dedication to his loved ones is what sparks a bloodsoaked conflict however, when a rival gang decides to move in on Luca’s territory and send him a message. Luca finds his brother has been murdered and his wife has been kidnapped, which sends him into a furious rage that ignites an all out war between the gangs. He had always refused to get involved with drugs, but when an unbelievable offer was presented, it put him in a most difficult position. Now with his life in even more danger than ever and the blood of his family spilled, Luca has one goal in mind and that is to punish those who wronged him. But the situation goes beyond simple revenge, as torture, murder, and rape become involved. Even if the immense bloodshed yields his wife back to him however, will Luca ever be able to move on with his life?
This is one of my most anticipated releases, as Blue Underground brings the Lucio Fulci epic Contraband to DVD. I’ve owned several releases of this movie, including an import disc, but this version has the uncut & uncensored edition of the movie, not to mention a brand new transfer from the original negative. If you’re a fan of mobster movies, then you’ll be in heaven with Contraband (a.k.a. The Smuggler), as it has an overdose of all the elements that make those movies so much fun to watch. You’ll see brutal beatings, gun battles, sadistic hitmen, and vicious feuds, all wrapped up with some of Fulci’s best direction. And since this is a Fulci picture, the violence is intense and brutal, from graphic headshots to horrific beatings to scenes of rape, so be prepared for a gruesome, bloodsoaked experience. But this is by no means a simple gore picture, as Contraband has action, tension, and a decent storyline, so it functions well as a crime thriller. It happens to be more brutal and graphic than most mobster movies, but it still follows the genre’s conventions. I like the music a lot and the entire picture has a 70s feel, though it was released in 1980. In the end, Contraband has some slow stretches and some folks are certain to be repulsed by the violence, but for those interested, Blue Underground’s disc is highly recommended.
Although he is best known for his gore drenched horror movies, Lucio Fulci worked in many other genres in his career. Fulci crafted several enjoyable westerns, some slapstick comedies, and with Contraband, he entered the mobster movie realm. This would be his sole effort in the world of traditional mafia pictures, but this is one of the most brutal, memorable genre entries, to be sure. Fulci borrows from other genre pictures, but never apes them too much and in the end, delivers a one of a kind production. Yes, like I said, you can see elements from other mafia movies, but just bits & pieces that provide a wireframe for Fulci’s own visions. He relies on more of a natural storyline than in his surreal horror movies, which leads to some rather dry, extended stretches, but he leaves his trademarks in this one, to be sure. He does so through his penchant for gore, which means tons of violent, graphic sequences. Other films directed by Fulci include The Beyond, The House of Clocks, The New York Ripper, Zombie, and Four of the Apocalypse. The cast here includes Fabio Testi (Revolver, What Have They Done to Solange?), Ivana Monti (The Five Days of Milan), and Guido Alberti (The Decameron, 8 1/2).
Video: How does it look?
Contraband is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a very nice presentation, thanks to a clean source print that shows minimal defects. I was stunned to see that grain is absent and no marks & or other debris are evident. A few minor age related flaws emerge, but you might not even notice them, unless you pay more attention to this treatment than the film itself. The image is dark, but that’s intentional and detail is always solid. The visuals here are dank, with muted colors and a subdued overall texture, but thanks to the absence of grain, the image is strong and looks just as it was intended. This edition is a massive improvement over the import version, which had a worn, beaten up source print. I am very pleased with Blue Underground’s efforts here, as this is a far better treatment than I ever expected.
Audio: How does it sound?
I found the audio here to be solid, but keep in mind, this is an English language version, so that means there’s some unintentional humor involved. As always, I wish the original language track was available, but I have never seen Contraband offer with an Italian language option, so I won’t complain too much in this case. The voice actors weren’t the best choices, so they add the unintended humor, but this is not the worst dub soundtrack I’ve heard. As far as technical performance, the included mono track is decent and provides no serious complaints, but it is mono and as such, keep your expectations realistic. The music sounds good and sound effects are passable, but don’t expect much beyond the basics here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some talent files, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
