It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Arrow Video has allowed fans of the giallo genre the chance to finally see movies that most of us never had the chance to when they were initially released. Sure major cities might have offered these films at the time but widespread release across the county was unheard of. The invention of home video changed that and DVD has increased the offerings. But few companies have taken the genre to the levels that Arrow Video has. This shows once more with their release of THE CASE OF THE SCORPION'S TAIL.In London Lisa Baumer (Ida Galli) is an unfaithful wife meeting with her lover whose wealthy husband Kurt dies in an exploding plane on his way to Japan. She becomes the sole beneficiary of his insurance policy of $1 million dollars and problems begin. They start with an ex-love and junkie who blackmails her with the threat of exposing her to the insurance company for wishing her husband dead. Meeting him later to pay him off she finds him murdered. Heading to Greece to avoid problems she followed by Peter Lynch (George Hilton), an investigator for the insurance company following up any loose ends on the case. While thinking she left behind her problems in London it isn't long before Lisa finds more in Greece. They begin with Lara Florakis (Janine Reynaud), a woman who claims to be Kurt's mistress who he planned on leaving Lisa for. She demands that Lisa split to money with her or she'll contest his will. To help convince Lisa she has a stiletto carrying "lawyer" named Sharif on hand. Lisa escapes with the help of Peter who was following her.Attempting to avoid any more confrontations Lisa asks for the settlement in cash and then books a flight to Tokyo. Before she can fly out a mysterious masked killer complete with trademark giallo black gloves enters her hotel room, kills her and takes the money. Enter Police Inspector Stavros (Luigi Pistilli) and Interpol agent John Stanley (Alberto De Mendoza) who'd been watching Lisa since her arrival. As they begin to investigate her murder their main suspect is Peter.Covering the story of the murder is reporter Cléo Dupont (Anita Strindberg). Meeting with Peter she tries to find out what he knows and it isn't long before the pair fall into bed together and become lovers. But more bodies begin to turn up. First off is Lara who is attacked by the same gloved figure that killed Lisa. Her "lawyer" also falls to the hands of the killer. As the bodies begin to pile up suspicion remains on Peter in spite of the fact there could be others behind it all. And an attack on Cléo seems to clear Peter. What of the boyfriend Lisa had in London? Or could her husband have faked his own death? What makes this movie work so well is less the typical giallo staples like the gloved hand, the knife wielding killer or the murderous intent of seemingly everyone involved. It works well as a mystery first and foremost with clues provided throughout to direct the viewer to the films conclusion. Each is meticulously placed in a well written screenplay that doesn't get caught up in pop culture like some in the genre tend to, instead sticking with story.For once the acting on display loses nothing in translation. All involved perform for the camera and for the written word they were provided. No flamboyant gestures or wasted words here, everything in its place and adhered to. Each one makes their character believable and no one attempts taking over the screen are seen here.The cinematography is also well done with beautiful locations shots coupled with well-lit interiors and street shots throughout. The composition of shot also works well and shows that director Sergio Martino and cinematographer Giorgio Bertolini worked well together to focus on the story visually as well as through the written word provided by Eduardo Manzanos, Ernesto Gastaldi and Sauro Scavolini. As I said at the start, Arrow has been bringing a number of these well know and not so well known giallo films to blu-ray and every time a new one is announced I find myself waiting with anticipation. It's not just the fact that they're becoming available but that Arrow is the one bringing them out. They continue to offer the films with not just the best looking versions of them found but with plenty of extras on hand that add to the film rather than interfere with it. I'm not one to watch a lot of extras finding most to be little more than promotional pieces put together by corporate entities that want to increase sales by adding the standard Q&A with the stars. Arrow goes far beyond that making their extras as interesting to watch as the film itself.So let's look at what they're offering here. To begin with the disc is a new 4k restoration of the film from the original camera negative. This provides viewers with that exceptional look that I discussed earlier. Extras abound with the following: an audio commentary track with writer Ernesto Gastaldi moderated by filmmaker Federico Caddeo in Italian with English subtitles, a new interview with George Hilton, a new interview with director Sergio Martino, a new analysis of the Sergio Martino's films by Mikel J. Koven who wrote "La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film", a new video essay by Troy Howarth the author of "So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films", the theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon and for the first pressing only an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Rachael Nisbet and Howard Hughes and a biography of star Anita Strindberg by Peter Jilmstad. As I said, Arrow continues to give more than expected. Some might think that the only people who would find this film worth watching are fans of European films and giallo films in particular. They'd be completely wrong. The movie works on so many levels and those who love a good mystery would be well served by seeing this one. Martino is hailed as one of the masters of the giallo genre and it's easy to see why. For those unexposed to the genre they couldn't pick a better place to start and this Arrow version is the best way to do so.

While she makes love to someone else, Lisa's husband dies in a jet crash. She stands to inherit all of his money, despite them being basically separated. An ex-lover has a confrontation with her, threatening her with blackmail. She pays up — some money now, then some when she gets the letter where she wished that her husband was dead. But a gloved hand finds the letter and kills the ex-lover!Lisa has to go to Athens to collect the money, but runs into one of her husband's ex-lovers, Lara Florakis (Janine Reynaud, Succubus) and a knife wielding maniac. Peter Lynch (George Hilton from All the Colors of the Dark) saves her and takes her to the hotel. She asks for all of the money in cash, despite warnings to how dangerous that is.That same maniac tries to kill Peter, then comes back to kill Lisa, sharp jazz wails staccato punctuating each stab of the knife, each rip across her body. Jump cuts and flashes and the room is covered by the police, who question him.An INTERPOL agent, Inspector Stavros (Luigi Pistilli, The Good, the Bad and The Ugly, Your Vice is a Locked Door and Only I Have the Key), offers to help Peter with the case and the moment he goes to talk to Lara, he's attacked by the gloved man.That brings in Cléo Dupont(Anita Strindberg, Who Saw Her Die?), a journalist who pretty much instantly falls in love with our hero. They go up to his room, but it's been turned over by the police, with even the bed sliced open looking for the million dollars that went missing when Lisa was killed.Turns out the gloved man wasn't on Lara's side — he or she slits her throat, then runs up a spiral staircase as a guard gives chase. This reveals a room full of one eyed baby dolls and a strange oil painting. Between the woman's face against the glass with blood spraying everywhere and these reveals, this film is really tipping its hat toward Argento.The bodyguard chases after the killer, but is knocked off the roof. One slash across the fingers and we have another dead body. It's 45 minutes in…and most of the IMDb cast is already dead!That said — there's a stewardess that gets the gift of scorpion earrings from an unseen lover. So there's that.Meanwhile, Peter and Cléo make love on an orange shag couch while a peeping tom watches from the window. You know how Bruce Banner always has on purple slacks and you wonder, "Who wears purple slacks?" Peter does.Read more at http://bit.ly/2xdXawP

¨The Case of the Scorpion's Tail¨ begins with the mysterious death of a billionaire when a plane explodes and spirals into the killing ; as the newspapers publicize : ¨Air disaster , nor survivors¨ . As his suddenly rich wife (Evelyn Stewart or Ida Galli) because he's insured for one million of dollars . Being the unfaithful spouse the beneficiary as the insurance agency arranges to pay . It draws the attention of various sleuths to sniff out suspects . A dogged and top investigator named Peter Lynch (George Hilton) , a Greek police (Luigi Pistilli), a Interpol agent ( Alberto De Mendoza ) and a journalist ( Anita Strindberg) , follow a wake of blood to the bitter final . Meanwhile Peter Lynch becomes companion and protector the widow .Sergio Martino's great success is compellingly directed with well staged murders plenty of startling visual content , though was submitted to limited censorship in Spain . This is a customary slasher where the intrigue, tension, suspense appear threatening and lurking in every room , corridors and luxurious interior and exterior . The picture packs atmospheric blending of eerie thrills and creepy chills combined with a twisted finale . It displays lots of guts and blood but it seems pretty mild compared to today's gore feasts . It's a solid movie , a thrilling story plenty of suspense and intrigue in which the victims seem to be continuous . The staged killings are the high points of the movie , they deliver the goods plenty of screams, shocks and tension . The intriguing moments are compactly made and fast moving ; as the film itself takes place from various points of sights . It packs tension, shocks , thrills, chills and lots of blood . There's plenty of moments of gore and a number of scenes that are quite thrilling , resulting to be definitely the spotlight of the film the surprising ending situation . Lousy special effects when the plane explodes , it's in made in ridiculous scale model that lookalike a little toy . Written by the usuals , Ernesto Gastaldi and Eduardo Manzanos Brochero ( also producer with his Production Company called Copercines , as he produced several Gialli and Western as ¨Apocalypse Joe , Danger Pass , Winchester one among thousand , Arrival Sartana , Djanjo the condemned ¨) . Good ambiance design and acceptable production design by Cubero and Galicia , both of whom created lots of sets in several Western filmed in the 60s and 70s . Sergio Martino's so-so direction is well crafted, here he's less cynical and more inclined toward violence and lots of killings . It's a co-production Italian- Spanish , for that reason appears Spanish actors as Luis Barboo , Alberto De Mendoza , Janine Reynaud and Italian players as Luigi Pistilli and Ida Galli , among others . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Emilio Foriscot who photographed splendidly Londres , Madrid , Rome and Greece where is developed the action . However , the photography is washed-out and for that reason is necessary an urgent remastering . Very good and suspenseful score by Bruno Nicolai , known disciple of Ennio Morricone and his director of orchestra . The picture is professionally directed by the prolific filmmaker Sergio Martino . Talented and versatile writer/director Sergio Martino has made a vast array of often solid and entertaining films in all kind of genres as horror, Giallo , comedy, Western, and science fiction in a career that spans over 40 years . He especially was expert on Western as proved in ¨Mannaja¨ and ¨Arizona returns¨ and Giallo as this ¨The case of scorpion's tail ¨ , ¨Torso¨ ,¨the scorpion with two tails¨ and of course ¨The strange vice of Mrs Ward¨. Rating: Acceptable and passable , this is one more imaginative slasher pictures in which the camera stalks in sinister style throughout a story with magnificent visual skills. This is a bewildering story , funny in some moment but falls flat and it will appeal to hardcore Gialli fans

A fine Martino outing, this is a spirited and enjoyable giallo with fine performances from good looking cast and principally the two leads, George Hilton and Anita Strindberg.For me the jig-saw puzzle of a plot is so convoluted and confusing you just sit back and enjoy rather than try to anticipate. Just when all seems resolved we are again taken on a further series of twists, enjoyable twists, it has to be said.Sexy with plenty of gory kills this a well paced movie with London, Athens and Greek coastal locations. A super finale set upon Aegean rocks wraps things up and much fun was had by all.