A segue between the Italian Gothic Horror and Giallo genres were the popular film versions of the Italian fumetti comic books. One of the first anti-hero's of this genre was Kriminal: A masked villain who dresses in a skeleton costume to accomplish his fiendish plans. Umberto Lenzi directed the first KRIMINAL film with Glenn Saxson starring as Kriminal. Kriminal is set to be hanged after he's accused of stealing the Crown Jewels. Right before the ultimate moment for Kriminal the rope breaks and he escapes! Soon Chief Inspector Milton of Scotland Yard receives a package containing the Crown Jewels and a nice little note from Kriminal attempting to clear his name of the wrong doing. Off Kriminal goes on another adventure that takes him around the world while being pursued by Inspector Milton always one step behind. Along the way he encounters dangerous situations and plenty of beautiful women. Directed with style by Umberto Lenzi KRIMINAL is a must for fans of Mario Bava's DANGER: DIABOLIK. Also stars Helga Line and Andrea Bosic. Followed by the sequel IL MARCHIO DI KRIMINAL.

In 17th century Spain, the evil, corrupt Don Luis intends to marry his ward, Carmencita, to his stepson, Don Diego. A peasant revolt, fuelled by a plague, complicates matters, as does the arrival of a Masked Avenger.

Charming, affluent--with his father's money--and self-assured, a frivolous son who can have any woman he desires falls head over heels for a beautiful Italian student; however, she is a hard nut to crack. Will he manage to impress her?

Caterina finds out that her husband Peter Tzar of Russia, is plotting to kill her. She sets Count Orlov free from prison, Peter's sworn enemy, becomes empress of Russia and leads the Cossacks army against him.

Tarzan helps the Amazons defeat two gangsters who wished to take over a sacred gold treasure from the women's tribe. There are extensive views of the Central America jungle, and several tough battles between the young Amazons and the evil pirates.

John Slade is hired to rescue a journalist named Frank Morris from a Sandinista prison in Nicaragua. He teams with Marta, a local woman, to carry out this mission, but then he's captured, tortured, and forced to deal with the fact that he's been betrayed.

Three enemy agents lead a government security man on a perilous trail as the hunter becomes the hunted.

A group of unlikely companions receive a radio call leading to a deserted house with a grisly past.

A handful of young geologists are unlucky enough to be forced to stay at a rundown hotel in the middle of nowhere. What they don't know is that the hotel has been abandoned for twenty years because the owner of the hotel had killed his family and all the guests two decades ago. Strange things begin to happen, and suddenly murders are committed...

A man discharged from the hospital after suffering a nervous breakdown is taken to a remote Italian villa by his strangely-behaving wife. But he has strong premonitions that the house is possessed by some force of witchcraft, which he has been experiencing in his recurring nightmare.

A cop recruits a criminal and his cohorts to help track down a violent crime lord who has kidnapped the ill daughter of a rich family.

A vengeful criminal targets the inspector who put him away, but the inspector survives and fakes his death. Ignoring orders to flee, he sets out to bring the fugitive back to justice.

Most enjoyable outing from Mr Lenzi and whilst giallo-esquire is really quite a mixed bag. Starting off as a bit of a hippy drippy affair with a young uninhibited couple using their bodies and their guile to get a free holiday, this turns into something much darker. There is real suspense including a splendid Hitchcockian scene in an aviary, lots of nudity and some pretty nasty moments. Irene Papas ( 'Zorba the Greek' and 'Don't Torture a Duckling') lends considerable gravitas with her impressive performance as the mature woman with something of a problem to sort out. Ray Lovelock is appealing as the handsome young man who likes fast cars and faster women but it is the lovely 16 year old Ornella Muti who is always catching the eye. Apparently the almost too perfect nude shots are of a body double but we still get plenty of up the shorts shots as she bends obligingly forward. All three are a great asset and with a decent script and Lenzi's constant inventiveness, this is a fine piece of exploitation cinema.

1981 film directed by Umberto Lenzi

A woman's search for her missing sister leads her to the jungles of New Guinea, where she and an expatriate guide encounter a cult leader and flesh-hungry natives.