There must have been a sharp drop in budgets here as Fernando De Leo goes from huge sweeping Eurocrime epics to...an old house out in the country with four actors in it, complete with recycled music from earlier, and better films.

That's your first warning sign right there. The theme tune for Milano Calibro 9 plays over footage of Joe Dallesandro escaping from prison and killing two farmers. He then heads off to a house in the country he has a special interest in, only to find that it has been bought over by a man and wife combo, complete with evil nymphomania sister who is having an affair with her brother in law.

There's something under the fireplace Joe wants, but maybe Joe wants a little bit of action too. While the man is out hunting, the wife out shopping, and the horny sister out sunbathing while wearing what looks like just a headscarf, Joe knocks her out and brings her into the house while he digs out the fireplace. When the sister wakes up, instead of pouncing on her, Joe makes her do some digging instead.

They do get in on eventually however, but the sister likes it of course. When the wife and the husband return, Joe starts playing them off each other, but to be honest with you this film never really gets going at all, including the predictable ending.

You could never say that Joe Dallesandro was ever going to win an oscar for acting, but here it seems like he just cannot be bothered at all! He just kind of threatens people and bulges his eyes out a bit. The whole thing comes across as being a bit half-arsed, like Fernando De Leo was just going through the motions. There's a bit of nudity to keep you awake a bit, but this is bare bones, plotless crap.

A low budget home invasion thriller from Italy, directed by Fernando di Leo on one off his off-days; apparently he hated the finished product and it's easy to see why. The low budget is telling throughout, with unrealistic action and a general lack of the crucial ingredients needed to make a good thriller. Plot-wise, it has similarities with earlier and sleazier classics like HITCH-HIKE, with the emphasis is more on the sex and nudity than the violence, although it has its moments. Joe Dallesandro gives an indifferent performance as the antihero and feels limited at times. I watched the censored American version, shorn of some fifteen minutes by all accounts.