Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered Vol. 1 (2008)
Review by Willy Greer
Who was Lucio Fulci? A true artist or a simple craftsman? A tyrant or a loving drill sergeant? Misogynist, misanthrope, or simply a cranky old fart? Filmmaker Mike Baronas hopes to provide some insight into the matter with this documentary. There isn’t really a narrative thread here; it’s simply a collection of anecdotes from virtually everyone who worked with or alongside Fulci – actors, crew members and colleagues.
The target audience for this DVD, I think, isn’t summed up by the word “cult”, or even the word “niche.” I mean really, how many rabid Fulci fans can there be out there? Twelve?
Yes, I’m kidding; please don’t send hate mail. You and I are both huge Fulci fans, and this DVD is for you and me, and nobody else.
Almost all of the actors featured talk about Fulci’s notorious temper tantrums, but a handful of them relate that Fulci let them in on the truth: Fulci was a man working under pressure, and had to project the image of a despot in order to keep things running smoothly on the set (“smoothly” meaning “on time and under budget”). Standing out among the actors who “got” Fulci’s method is the stunningly lovely and erudite Cinzea Monreale, whom I would marry in a heartbeat. Also very charming is Catriona McColl, whose Fulci story is interrupted by her dog.
There are also great stories from Michele Soavi, Luigi Cozzi, Bruno Mattei and numerous other filmmakers who worked in the genre at the same time as Fulci. Dario Argento is, of course, absent from the proceedings.
The thing about a film like Paura is that it’s pretty much critic-proof. If you’re a Fulci fan, you’ll likely pick this disc up regardless of what I say. The only warning I’ll offer up is that the subtitles didn’t always line up in a legible way on my TV, and it has a little trouble playing on my computer. But in the end it only contributes to the documentary’s DIY vibe.
If you like a healthy helping of maggots and pig intestines in your horror cinema, pick up this doc, and welcome to the cult.
Viva Fulci!
Visit Paura Productions Official Site
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