Let’s begin this review with a brief film history lesson. Giallo (Italian for “yellow”) is a film subgenre spawned from pulp mystery novels with yellow covers. Over time, several key traits of these movies developed, like the sacred black-gloved hand, bright red blood, sexualized victims and very theatrical lighting, colors, and style. These films quickly shifted from simply seedy mystery stories into gory whodunits and then into the full-out gorefests that most people associate with greats like Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. The gialli took inspiration from U.S. directors like the legendary Alfred Hitchocock while also serving as a predominant influence on American slasher films.

OK, pencils down and back to the review. Raro Video has rereleased BODY PUZZLE, directed by Lamberto Bava, son of Mario (one of the fathers of the giallo subgenre). This film was originally released in 1992, so it’s questionable whether it can be associated with the trend’s original heyday from the 1960s-’80s or functions more as a retro throwback to the subgenre. Regardless, it is a perfectly framed example of giallo executed brilliantly, with a small dose of cheesy fun tossed in for good measure.

BODY PUZZLE stars Joanna Pacula as Tracy, a wealthy widow who seems to be at the center of a series of murders involving her late husband’s donated organs. The recipients of these organs are being brutally killed, and the parts are somehow finding their way back into Tracy’s house. Moody and malevolent, the film relies heavily on a classical soundtrack to provide tone and atmosphere. Some of the music was composed by Carlo Maria Cordio, who scored many gialli (including some of Fulci’s), but for the most part, the audience is bombarded with Moussorgsky’s “A Night on Bald Mountain,” which is played anytime there is a remote chance of suspense. It’s so pounding and loud, I found myself having to turn the TV down several times so my neighbors wouldn’t think I was having some type of witches’ sabbath in my living room.

Not familiar with “A Night on Bald Mountain”? Think back to Disney’s FANTASIA. Remember the scene with the devil on the mountain calling all of the ghosts and witches? It probably scared the shit out of you as a child. Yeah, it’s that music. “A Night on Bald Mountain” is beyond disturbing, and when applied to suspense-laden organ harvesting in BODY PUZZLE, it becomes downright chilling.

This movie does not pull any punches. As the killer hunts down the assorted parts, the viewer is fully privy to eyes being gouged, hands getting hacked off and ears being sliced, all with full giallo-style bright red bloody ooze. Yet, oddly enough, the most disturbing scene is one set in a swimming pool—not for the pounding music or the fate of the swimmer, but the simple framing and placement used to show the slasher in the water. You have to see it to understand it, but this may replace JAWS as the source of my biggest underwater fear.

My only complaint with BODY PUZZLE lies with the ending. It becomes a little convoluted and confusing as the true nature of the killer and victims is revealed. There are twists on top of twists, and by the time the final one was unveiled, I was a bit bewildered about who was who and how everyone was related. Well, not so much bewildered as in disbelief that such a complex and intricately coiled course of events and psychological issues could play out with such precision. Despite some cheesy moments, though, this is still a damn good movie.

Unfortunately, this DVD edition does not contain any special features, though it does sport a fantastic transfer, capturing all the film’s beauty and low-key/high-contrast lighting with sharp detail. The package also features a sweet insert with a history of the movie written by none other than FANGORIA’s own editor-in-chief Chris Alexander.

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