This month, NoShame Films unleashes a trio of rare, uncut ‘70s poliziotteschi/crime films, and Emergency Squad, one of the three DVDs in this spectacular series, is a particularly exceptional and compelling outing, sporting all of the core genre essentials that the maniac cinephiliacs that eat these types of films up insatiably crave.
Emergency Squad tells the trademark 70s poliziotteschi tale of crime, corruption, and a cool cop, and utilizes the genre standard of the “revenge” plot, this time relating it to a “cop on the edge”, Ravelli (played by Tomas Milian), and his natural need to claim vengeance against the thugs who recently filled his wife with oh-so-many bullet holes.
Tomas Milian is truly a badass, portraying Ravelli as an unflinching and unforgiving anti-hero with “less talk, more action” ideals. He particularly flexes his bad ass-ery during the film’s final moments, in which he set up false hope for the main villain, only to annihilate him.
Stelvio Casini keeps the score catchy and very satisfying (for the record, I have yet to be disappointed by a score to one of these types of films), while also creating a certain atmosphere that seemingly only 70s exploitation films can.
Deceased director Stelvio Massi (R.I.P.) is extremely creative with the camera in Emergency Squad, making the film that much more fun and suspenseful to watch. Under Massi’s direction, there are cases in which background imagery or mirror reflections reveal the action.
NoShame’s DVD package is superb as always (you were expecting anything less?), and contains the standard original Italian theatrical trailer, poster and still gallery, and 8-page “collectible booklet” (containing liner notes and talent bios) that, while expected features coming from NoShame, should not be taken for granted. Aside from these aspects of the DVD package, also part of the disc are two very informative and insightful interviews with Tomas Milian and Stelvio Massi (the latter’s interview also serves as the last one held before his death last year), and a special Stelvio Massi still gallery.
Exploitation fans should not be without Emergency Squad, a brilliant entry into their beloved genre. NoShame Films deserves a lot of praise for yet again blessing the world with another cinematically restored rarity. Now, NoShame, bring on the next batch of cult classics, I say!
-Spooky Steve
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
