Top 10 Horror Films of Umberto Lenzi

Now that we’ve reviewed all of Umberto Lenzi’s horror films, it’s time to wrap up Lenzi Wednesday with a top ten list! Throughout his career, Lenzi progressed from early giallo-style thrillers into the gory cannibal and zombie films that he is more widely known for. After his gore films, he directed several made-for-TV horrors that absolutely overflow with cheese. All of his horror movies are definitely watchable, but obviously some are better than others. So without further ado, here’s the top ten (titles link to the full review):

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10. So Sweet… So Perverse (1969)

So Sweet… So Perverse is a re-imagining of a French classic, Les Diaboliques, but focused less on tension and more on drama. It may not be his most exciting thriller, but it is an enveloping story. Gialli regulars Carroll Baker and Erika Blanc are spectacular as the plotting girlfriend and wife of Jean (yep, he’s playing the field…and not subtly). As far as straightforward mysteries go, this is a great one.

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9. Hitcher in the Dark (1989)

One of Lenzi’s late-career thrillers is Hitcher in the Dark. It is an effective psychological horror about a serial killer who kidnaps a young woman because she reminds him of his mother. And there in-lies the fascinating social interaction between the two. Joe Balogh and Josie Bissett give strong performances as killer, Mark, and his newest victim, Daniela.

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8. Eyeball (1975)

Eyeball is one of Lenzi’s lesser-known gialli, but definitely a great example of a 70’s giallo that lead right into slasher films. Since the killer has the habit of removing his victims eyeball (hence the title), it’s got plenty of violence and gore effects. This one is well worth your time.

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7. An Ideal Place to Kill (1971)

Lenzi’s knack for story and character-driven gialli is demonstrated perfectly in An Ideal Place to Kill. This is his fourth thriller, and the first to not star Carroll Baker. However, Irene Papas (Don’t Torture A Duckling) steps right into a role that would have otherwise gone to Baker. The characters are superb, and the story brings the twists that you’d expect from this style.

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6. Nightmare City (1980)

Nightmare City is the first film on this list from Lenzi’s gore period, and also the first on this list to be highly enjoyable without much of any form of story. There’s something hidden in the cracks about radiation and a virus, but basically there’s just zombies. And these aren’t slow, staggering Romero-style zombies, they’re wielding weapons and ready for a war! It’s well beyond cheesy, and one of the more action-packed of the Italian zombie films of this era.

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5. Spasmo (1974)

Spasmo is quite possibly Umberto Lenzi’s most ‘artistic’ film in terms of its portrayal of the plot. Rather than laying out a standard linear story line, this film attempts to portray madness with a creative use of mannequins. It’s an attempt to put the viewer inside the mind of Christian Bauman, the lead character. I’ll stop there in an attempt to remain spoiler-free, but if you want to know more, the full review goes into more detail and has a spoiler or two.

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4. A Quiet Place to Kill (1970) a.k.a Paranoia

This is one of two Lenzi films that stars Carroll Baker and is titled Paranoia somewhere, at some time. To avoid confusion, this one has been alternately titled A Quiet Place to Kill. Baker is a race car driver who, after an accident, goes to live with her ex-husband and his new wife. The two women begin to plot an ‘accidental’ death for the unfortunate Maurice, but all does not go as planned. This is another perfect example of Lenzi’s giallo/thrillers driven purely by plot and characters.

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3. Cannibal Ferox (1981)

It’s probably safe to say that Cannibal Ferox is Umberto Lenzi’s most recognized film. Right next to Cannibal Holocaust, it’s one of the most popular cannibal films of all time. And there’s good reason for that. Although the tension isn’t quite to the level of Cannibal Holocaust, Lenzi’s superb use of gore effects make this a stomach-churning watch. It’s cheesy, but also a gorehound’s dream come true.

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2. Paranoia (1969) a.k.a. Orgasmo

In my humble opinion, Lenzi’s first giallo/thriller is still one of his best. Paranoia stars Carroll Baker as a widow who becomes the target of a sadistic young couple. She gives a spectacular performance (perhaps one of her most haunting roles) as she is tormented mentally and physically by her new tenants. This is a fantastic, exploitative, psychological thriller.

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1. Seven Blood Stained Orchids (1972)

Easily Lenzi’s best-known giallo, and one of the more widely-known gialli in general, is Seven Blood Stained Orchids. The brutality of the murders in this movie show both the talent of the actors involved and Lenzi’s knack for this style. It’s easy to see why this is one of his most talked about movies, and how films in this vein directly influenced the slasher boom in the 80’s. Don’t miss this one.

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