Delirium (1972)

I love this movie so much

Fantastic!

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Renato Polselli's "Delirio Caldo" (aka. "Delirium") of 1972 is an incredibly sleazy, demented, and violent Giallo of which two very different versions exist. The original Italian version is 102 minutes long, whereas the American edited version runs only 85 minutes. They did not simply cut out some sequences for the American version, however, but added some (including an entirely different beginning and ending), which basically makes the two versions two different films. I first saw the American version over a year ago, and recently purchased the Blue Underground DVD which includes both versions. Overall, one must say that the Italian original version is the recommendable one, even though the American cut has some particular qualities as well.Criminal psychologist Herbert Lyutak (Mickey Hargitay) is a sadistic maniac whose impotence-induced rage forces him to sadistically murder young women in order to get off. He is assisting the police in the gruesome sex-murders committed by himself, which makes it easy for him to blame them on others. In spite of his sadism and impotence, his stunningly beautiful wife Marcia (Rita Calderoni) is completely devoted to him...The plot of (both versions of) "Delirium" differs from your typical Giallo-storyline in that the killer's identity isn't a secret. Herbert Lyutak is the sadistic strangler, which is revealed in the first five minutes of the film. However, as the film goes on, we get the impression that there is another beauty-killing maniac on the loose. Mickey Hargitay, the former husband of Jayne Mansfield and muscleman who appeared in other Italian cult-flicks such as "Il Boia Scarlatto" ("The Crimson Executionner", 1965), "La Figlia Di Frankenstein" ("Frankenstein's Daughter", 1971) and director Polselli's own "The Reincarnation of Isabel" (1973), is at his best in his incredibly demented role here. Hargitay is very effectively demented, psychotic and just plain scary in his psychopath role here. The ravishing Rita Calderoni, also known for her many revealing roles in other Italian cult films including "The Reincarnation of Isabel" and "Nuda Per Satana" (1974) is drop-dead gorgeous in the role of the psycho's submissive wife.The film is very sadistic and sleazy, even for Giallo-standards. The hot female cast members deliver plenty of nudity, the film is filled with demented sexual perversions, and the murders are gruesome and very sadistic. Director Renato Polselli is generally known for his bizarre films.The original uncut Italian version is almost 20 minutes longer and thus has a more elaborate storyline. Not too surprisingly, there is also a stronger focus on the sleaze and sexual perversions in the European version. The psychedelic orgy sequences, most of which are included in the Italian original only, truly earn the film the title "Delirium". This the delightfully bizarre stuff that Polselli is good at. While I certainly recommend the original version over the American cut, it is undeniably rewarding for a Giallo fan to watch both versions. The American cut lacks some of the elements that make the original so great, but it includes (a rather preposterous) alternate beginning and ending involving a war-trauma (which is typical for 70s American cinema). The war sequences which are only featured in the American version, are quite nasty, and therefore recommendable to the gorehounds out there. The American version also includes one nasty killing with a plastic bag, which isn't included in the original cut. Still, the original cut has more to offer (both story-wise and sleaze-wise). My advice to my fellow Giallo-fans: Definitely watch the Italian version. If possible, watch both. A true must for fans of the sleazier and nastier kind of Giallo.

In Renato Polselli's bonkers giallo Delrium, Mickey Hargitay plays Dr. Herbert Lyutak, an impotent deranged lunatic who cannot stop himself from murdering pretty young women. When his devoted wife, still a virgin due to her husband's 'problem', discovers his secret, she decides to help rather than inform the police.Delirium certainly showed promise at the beginning, with a vicious murder scene that delivered both the requisite nudity and violence one expects from a 70s giallo. Unfortunately, what begins as a sleazy little thriller quickly descends into a mess of histrionics and incomprehensible craziness that ultimately leads to disappointment.Polselli packs his film with tasty young totty, with nearly every woman either wearing a mini skirt or a pair of hot pants, and all willing to get their kit off at the drop of a hat, but even these pleasing visual distractions couldn't make me overlook the dreadful acting, poor plot and just plain silly ending. The usual red-herrings abound, and there's even more than one killer just to make things more confusing, but as giallos go this one is definitely second rate.4.5 out of 10 (very generously rounded up to 5 for IMDb).

Sensationally sleazy giallo with loads of fab 70's gear worn by the men as well as the women and stacks of lurid action. When it's not sex or death on the screen, then it's shades of S&M in the cellar with chains, whips and other implements. Great looking, well OTT, eyes wide open shocker. Vivid killing in waterfall at the start sets the tone and we never look back, even the dead must have their clothing arranged in the sexiest possible way. Delirious ending but then this movie is true to it's title all the way. Perhaps the directing is not as stylish as some giallo and the music is rather muted. Some of the performances, especially towards the end are a bit uncontrolled but this is undeniably a very wild ride from start to finish.

Thanks to a certain gray market outfit in south Florida that searches for obscure videos, I got stuck with the shorn American print of this movie, but it does have some very ridiculous added "Vietnam" footage which might make it the first movie ever to deal with the fallout from that war. A deranged Vietnam vet and forensic psychologist is driven by his traumatic war experiences (and implied impotence) to murder mini-skirted Italian co-eds (just like he did in 'Nam I'm sure). His loyal wife tries to cover up for him the only way she knows how. Mickey Hargitay is the name star. After seeing "Bloody Pit of Horror" I had no trouble buying him as a deranged killer, but a police psychologist?--c'mon. Mickey had apparently been making bad movies in Italy for so long by this point that he'd started speaking with an Italian accent. (Seriously, why did they cast third-rate American actors in these movies and then dub them when they're speaking English?). Rita Calderoni plays the wife. She wasn't a bad actress, but the enjoyment of her performance varies inversely with the amount of clothes she is wearing, and she's a little overdressed here (if you want to see a lot more of her check out the appropriately named "Nude for Satan"). There are also a lot of anonymous Italian girls in impossibly short minis (unfortunately, this is exactly the kind of sleazy movie that looks up their skirts while they're being strangled or shows them topless after they're dead). There's also a strange, recurring dream sequence where a shirtless Mickey strangles himself with a chain while his naked wife, maid(!),and college-age niece(!!) all writhe around on the floor at his feet. Anchor Bay apparently has included both this version and the longer European version on their legitimate DVD and it costs half as much used as what the more unscrupulous bootleggers are charging. Avoid just getting the American version, but I would recommend this to moral degenerates who enjoy this kind of sleazy, Italian-made filth (you know who you are).