Watch Me When I Kill – Synapse Films (Blu-ray/CD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1977
Director: Antonio Bido
Writers: Antonio Bido, Roberto Natale, Vittorio Schiraldi, Aldo Serio
Cast: Corrado Pani, Paola Tedesco, Franco Citti, Fernando Cerulli, Giuseppe Addobbati, Gianfranco Bullo, Jill Pratt, Bianca Toccafondi, Inna Alexeievna, Paolo Malco

Release Date: October 29th, 2019
Approximate running time: 95 Minutes 41 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Mara (Paola Tedesco), a beautiful young nightclub dancer, witnesses a brutal murder and soon finds herself stalked by an animalistic gloved killer! While enlisting the help of her boyfriend Lukas (Corrado Pani) to track down and stop the maniac, the mystery surrounding the killings is slowly uncovered. As more bodies are found and secrets are uncovered, the truth behind the masked slasher is much more horrifying than anyone could imagine!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 4K transfer of the original negative, with color correction performed by Synapse Films."

Watch Me When I Kill comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.2 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio mixes are in great shape; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Out of these two audio mixes, I would say that the Italian audio track is the stronger of the two. There are two subtitle options for this release. Removable English SDH subtitles for the English language tracks and removable English subtitles for the Italian language tracks.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, an isolated music-only track, radio spots (1 minute 27 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), T.V. spot (34 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), theatrical trailer (2 minutes 20 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), U.S. opening title sequence (7 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), three short films directed by Antonio Bido; Danza Macabra (14 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo, no dialog), Mendelssohn Im Judischen Museum (12 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo, no dialog), and Berlin and Marche Funebre D’une Marionette (7 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo, no dialog), an interview with UK Academic Mikel Koven titled In Defense of Watch Me When I Kill (10 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian/author Nathaniel Thompson, and a CD that contains Trans-Europa Express’ twenty-six track score for Watch Me When I Kill.

Summary:

Watch Me When I Kill was directed by Antonio Bido, who also directed The Blood Stained Shadow. After directing two successful thrillers, Antonio Bido would only go on to direct a handful of other films.

The narrative revolves around a nightclub singer who witnesses a murder and is targeted by a sadistic killer. Terrified and not wanting to go to the police, whom she distrusts, she enlists the help of her boyfriend, Lucas. And the bodies start to pile up as they draw closer to the shocking truth behind these sadistic killings.

The way that Watch Me When I Kill diverges from the genre's conventions might put off some Giallo fans. The murders in Watch Me When I Kill are very effective, and most of them even hint at the motives behind the killings. The ending is also very satisfying, even if it is not your typical killer explanation and unmasking. The most effective asset Watch Me When I Kill has is its inventive editing, which lends itself well to a briskly paced narrative.

Besides stylish cinematography and graphic kill sequences, music is another element that most giallo films are known for. Watch Me When I Kill's memorable score was composed by Mauro Lusini and Gianfranco Coletta under the name Trans Europa Express. The score is obviously influenced by the Italian rock band Goblin (known for their collaborations with director Dario Argento). The most memorable musical motif in Watch Me When I Kill is Giuseppe Verdi’s Dies Irae during the bathtub murder.

Performance-wise, though there are no exceptional performances, the cast as a whole is more than adequate in their respective roles. Cast in the lead role of Lukas is an actor named Corrado Pani, whose notable performances include Girl with a Suitcase, Secrets of a Call Girl," and Gambling City. Other notable cast members include Paola Tedesco (The Tram), Jill Pratt (Flavia the Heretic), and Paolo Malco (The New York Ripper). Ultimately, Watch Me When I Kill is an underrated thriller that holds up well upon repeat viewings.

Watch Me When I Kill gets an excellent release from Synapse Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, a CD with the score, and a wealth of extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer