Plot: What’s it about?
As people became more and more accustomed to violence in their lives, a desire arose for more violence to be present, but not in the usual sense. The public longed for organized violence, but not just fights or sports, these folks wanted to see blood and since the demand was there, The Big Hunt was created to satisfy that need. In this game of legalized murder, the contestants must survive ten rounds of all out chaos, where they must protect their own lives, while trying to kill others in crowd pleasing fashion. The rounds are divided up into two sets of five for each participant, five as the hunter and five as the hunted, to keep it all balanced. As these intense session happen, audiences watch via camera crews that document the action and of course, sponsors and product placements abound. In this session, two of the top players have been slotted against each other, in an effort to find out who the best really is, Marcello (Marcello Mastroianni) or Caroline (Ursula Andress). As the cameras record the events, the two try to stay alive and also, attempt to balance the romance that has evolved between them…
I like movies were murder is a legalized sport, so of course, I was thrilled to see Blue Underground release The 10th Victim on Blu-ray. The 10th Victim (also known as The Tenth Victim) is often called a satire of the public’s love for violence, but I think it is too humorous for that, since a satire is usually subtle in tone. This movie uses a barrage of humor and in truth, works more like a spoof, although it is by no means along the lines of The Naked Gun or Scary Movie, to be certain. So expect some laughs with The 10th Victim, but don’t think this is a riot of comedy, as that simply isn’t the case. Ursula Andress leads the cast and is her usual self, which means she looks fantastic, but lacks a little in the performance. A piece of pop art history, The 10th Victim is a fun flick and if you’re at all interested, I recommend a rental to and if you like it, a purchase would be worthwhile, as it holds up well even after repeated viewing sessions.
She might not be the finest actress to ever grace the screen, but Ursula Andress always manages to command the screen, which is sometimes enough. In this film, she is decent enough overall and since the movie is so off kilter, her performance never seems inadequate. She is given some great lines & moments here and for the most part, she delivers on all counts, which is good news. I mean, a movie like this doesn’t ask for traditional performances really, so Andress is able to slide by at times, though I still maintain her work here is more than solid. You can also see Andress in such films as Slave of the Cannibal God, Scaramouche, Dr. No, Clash of the Titans, Tigers in Lipstick, and Fun in Acapulco. The cast also includes Marcello Mastroianni (Fellini’s Roma, Ghosts of Rome), Elsa Martinelli (Blood and Roses, Bad Girls Don’t Cry), Luce Bonifassy (Playtime), and Salvo Randone (Spirits of the Dead, The Lady of the Lake).
Video: How does it look?
The 10th Victim is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. I was impressed by the original DVD release, which was a drastic step up over previous versions, but this new transfer is simply excellent. The print looks so clean and refined, I had to double check and make sure I wasn’t lost in a dream. Fans will be beyond thrilled with this transfer, as it gives us an image with striking detail and a print that is just remarkable.
Audio: How does it sound?
A DTS HD mono soundtrack is present and while not memorable, the movie sounds quite good. The track shows some signs of age here and there, but nothing serious pops up. While I prefer the original Italian, the English dub track is actually quite hilarious in this case. So even if you rarely try out the dub options, this is one you should at least sample. This disc also includes English, Spanish, and French subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Marcello: A Sweet Life is a feature length documentary about Marcello Mastroianni, which is well crafted and stands as a substantial inclusion. This is an excellent piece that provides the kind of depth you rarely experience, especially in a supplemental element. This disc also includes some still photos, promotional artwork, and two of the film’s theatrical trailers.