(496) TASTE OF THE SAVAGE (1972) Excessively Violent Western
4495DVD
original
Italian title OCCHIO PER OCCHIO, DENTE PER DENTE [Eye for an
Eye, Tooth for a Tooth] also known as OJO POR OJO
[Eye for an Eye] (Spanish)
and EL SABOR DE LA VENGANZA (Taste for Vengeance)
director: Alberto Mariscal (as
Albert Marshall)
starring:
Isela Vega · Cameron Mitchell · Jorge Luke · Helena Rojo · Nick Georgiade
Spanish
filmmaker Alberto Mariscal directs this Italian-Mexican co-production
with an unrelenting vengeance, allowing it to boil over with brutality
and graphic violence. Mexican sex starlet Isela Vega - probably best
known to American audiences for her sultry performance in the Mandingo
sequel DRUM - is very effective as an incestuous mother who
becomes obsessed with hate when her husband gets killed by a pack of
gunmen. Sara hires a notorious gunfighter named Huck to teach her son
Judd the art of the pistol and then she controls the boy's "new
passion" through her warm bed.
This
brazenly graphic Western benefits well from its International roots.
Although shot in Mexico with a predominately Mexican cast, the production
team is mostly Spanish and Italian. In the tradition of other violent,
nihilistic Spaghetti Westerns (ie.,VENDETTA
AT DAWN, DJANGO
THE BASTARD, VENGEANCE
IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD and later SCALPS)
there are extra-large helpings of grit and gore, as victims often get
shot in the face with blood spurting from their eyes and mouth [see
above LEFT]. The film also dwells on Judd's sadistic
moments, as he violently rapes his former girlfriend and, then later
in the desert, he shoots a man in the arms and legs, relinquishing him
to a slow death.
American
actor Cameron Mitchell is the real star here. He gives an over-the-top
performance of a bounty hunter with a conscience, deeply regretting
that he has turned the boy Judd into a killing machine. Cameron Mitchell
came from USA television. After establishing himself
as Buck Cannon on the hit TV series High Chaparral (1966-71),
he became involved in numerous European peplums (Mario Bava's KNIVES
OF THE AVENGERS), fantasy/ actioners (SUPERSONIC
MAN) and Spaghetti Westerns (Sergio Corbucci's MINNESOTA
CLAY). Cameron eventually returned to the United States for
a decade of B-Movies and grindhouse projects, always considered 'higher
quality' due to his involvement. He was especially appreciated by
genre fans for TOOLBOX
MURDERS, THE
DEMON, and NIGHTMARE
IN WAX. Cameron Mitchell was a heavy smoker who, after starring
in 200+ projects, died of lung cancer at the age of 75 in July 1994.
A
Mexican/Italian/Spanish co-production in English language; original
fullscreen format (4:3),
uncut version at 85 minutes, encoded for ALL REGIONS NTSC,
playable on any American machine; Extras include selected trailers.
Graphic Violence/Gore/Rape/Semi
Nudity/Sexual Brutality
For Adult Audiences
