Reazione a catena (1971)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Franco Barberi (story)
Mario Bava (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

3 May 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The second movie rated "V" for violence.

Plot:

An elderly heiress is killed by her husband who wants control of her fortunes. What ensues is an all-out...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Inheritance | Murder | Joy | Child

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Claudine Auger	...	Renata
Luigi Pistilli	...	Albert
Claudio Camaso	...	Simon (as Claudio Volonté)
Anna Maria Rosati	...	Laura
Chris Avram	...	Frank Ventura
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Paolo Fossati
Laura Betti	...	Anna Fossati
Brigitte Skay	...	Brunhilda
Isa Miranda	...	Countess Federica Donati
Paola Montenero	...	Denise (as Paola Rubens)
Guido Boccaccini	...	Duke
Roberto Bonanni	...	Robert
Giovanni Nuvoletti	...	Count Filippo Donati
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Renato Cestiè	...	Renata and Albert's Son (uncredited)
Nicoletta Elmi	...	Renata and Albert's Daughter (uncredited)

Directed by
Mario Bava

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Franco Barberi		story
Mario Bava		screenplay
Filippo Ottoni		screenplay
Dardano Sacchetti		story
Giuseppe Zaccariello		(screenplay) (as Joseph McLee)

Produced by
Giuseppe Zaccariello	....	producer

Original Music by
Stelvio Cipriani

Cinematography by
Mario Bava

Film Editing by
Carlo Reali

Production Design by
Sergio Canevari

Art Direction by
Sergio Canevari

Costume Design by
Enrico Sabbatini

Makeup Department
Adalgisa Favella	....	hair stylist
Franco Freda	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Roberto Cicutto	....	production supervisor
Fernando Franchi	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lamberto Bava	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Carlo Diotallevi	....	sound recordist
Gene Luotto	....	post-synchronization
Carlo Tarchi	....	sound

Special Effects by
Carlo Rambaldi	....	special effects (as Rambaldi)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gianlorenzo Battaglia	....	assistant camera (as Lorenzo Battaglia)
Emilio Varriano	....	camera operator
Franco Vitale	....	still photographer

Other crew
Patrizia Zulini	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Nuova Linea Cinematografica

Distributors

• Hallmark Releasing Corp. (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1982) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Alberto Bitelli Intl. Films (1972) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Internacional Films Distribución (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Astro Distribution (2001) (Belgium) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (video)
• Gorgon Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Hokushin Audio Visual (1981) (UK) (video)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• M.I.B. (Germany) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Raro Video/Nocturno (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• Simitar Video (USA) (DVD)
• Starz Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Stomp Visual (2005) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack

Also Known As:

A Bay of Blood (International: English title) (uncensored intended title) (USA)
Antefatto - Ecologia del delitto (Italy) (new title)
Bloodbath (UK)
Bloodbath Bay of Death (UK) (unauthorized video title)
Carnage
Chain Reaction (Italy) (literal English title)
E così imparano a fare i cattivi (Italy) (working title)
Ecology of a Crime (International: English title) (informal literal title)
The Antecedent (USA) (informal title)
The Last House on the Left, Part II (USA) (reissue title)
Twitch of the Death Nerve (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

84 min | 76 min (cut)

Country:

Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Australia:R | UK:18 (re-rating: 1994) (cut) | UK:(Banned) (1984-1994) | UK:R (original rating: 1972) | France:-16 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 (uncut version, re-rating) | Norway:18 (DVD rating) (2009) (uncut) | Italy:VM14 | Italy:VM18 (DVD rating) | Spain:18 | USA:R | West Germany:(Banned) | Argentina:16 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Sabaudia, Latina, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Nuova Linea Cinematografica

Trivia:

Due to the film's low budget, most of the locations in the film belonged to director Mario Bava or members of the crew. The interiors of Countless Federica's home was shot at a favorite villa of director Bava and the interiors of Frank Ventura's country house were shot at a summer home of the producer.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)

When Nobody is Innocent

A handicapped and wealthy countess, who owns the lands of a disputed bay, is hanged by her husband and he is immediately killed. The crime scene is forged to simulate a suicide of the old woman. Later, two young couples are murdered in the bay. The inheritors of the fortune of the countess want the possession of the place and kill each other, in a bloodshed bath in the area.

"Reazione a Catena" is a gory slash movie with a different characteristic: there is no serial killer, but almost a chain reaction of murders. The deaths are motivated by the greed of different persons, and their motives are based on the interest of the civil construction in the ecological area, and the reluctance of the elder countess in selling her property. None of the character is innocent, except the two young couples that arrive in wrong the place for fun. The camera, with many closes and movements, is quite different. The black humor is very sharp; most of the deaths are very original and the conclusion is silly. The copy of the Brazilian VHS is a little dark, but it is watchable. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Banho de Sangue" ("Blood Bath")

Note: On 06 July 2009, I saw this movie again on DVD.