Contraband (1980) - Review of the Blu-ray Edition

      Contraband, 1980.

      Directed by Lucio Fulci.

      Featuring Fabio Testi, Marcel Bozzuffi, Ivana Monti, Saverio Marconi, Ferdinand Murolo, Lucio Fulci, and Enrico Maisto.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A cigarette smuggler seeks revenge after a rival drug smuggler murders his brother and business partner.

      It's remarkable that Italian splatter director Lucio Fulci managed to create another film between making Zombie Flesh Eaters and City of the Living Dead, but 1980 was a significant year for him. Contraband (also known as The Smuggler and The Naples Connection) deviates from horror, likely providing Fulci with a welcome change of pace. Nevertheless, horror enthusiasts will find plenty to appreciate here, as Fulci is known for his lack of subtlety.

      Luca Ajello (Fabio Testi) and his brother Mickey (Enrico Maisto) engage in smuggling cigarettes and alcohol along the Naples coast. After an encounter with the police, the brothers suspect rival gang leader Scherino (Ferdinand Murolo) of betrayal and seek assistance from their boss. However, following a fake police roadblock, Mickey is shot dead. Driven by vengeance, Luca breaks into Scherino's residence to confront him, but Scherino denies any involvement in Mickey's demise. He has Luca brutally beaten but spares his life. Once Luca recovers, he receives a lead on Mickey's true killer, leading to a vengeful spree.

      While the premise of Contraband appears straightforward—one brother is murdered and the other seeks revenge—in classic Italian fashion, the plot becomes unnecessarily convoluted. This complexity likely arises from Fulci needing to extend the film's length, as the simple narrative could have unfolded much faster. It takes nearly a third of the film for Mickey's death and Luca's vow for revenge to occur, which could have been handled in the first 15-20 minutes, allowing more screen time for the revenge itself.

      When the vengeance finally arrives, it is a spectacular display of brutality, showcasing Fulci's trademark style. The murder of Mickey pays tribute to Sonny Corleone’s death in The Godfather, and Fulci makes generous use of blood squibs, as characters are violently dispatched and blood fountains fill the streets of Naples. A particularly gruesome shot features a character's throat being shot out with a latex effect reminiscent of Zombie Flesh Eaters, giving this crime thriller significant crossover appeal for horror aficionados. Additionally, there's a shocking scene where a disgruntled gang leader assaults a woman's face with a Bunsen burner—something Coppola wouldn't dare to portray.

      With a groovy score by Fabio Frizzi, car chases, unsettling sexual assaults, and numerous familiar faces from Italian genre cinema, Contraband delivers all the elements you would expect from a poliziotteschi directed by Fulci during his notorious peak. It's certainly a visceral treat for those seeking gore in a more realistic setting than a zombie-infested Caribbean island or a haunted hotel in New Orleans.

      Included on the disc are interviews with Fulci’s daughter Antonella and star Fabio Testi, whose behind-the-scenes anecdotes are intriguing. There's also a comprehensive video essay by the insightful Stephen Thrower, making this Blu-ray edition of Contraband a definitive resource on the film. However, be prepared for a slow build-up to the action and expect some confusion while trying to follow all the events on screen.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward