One of the most durable super-villain characters in Italian fumetto was Kriminal, created by Magnus and Max Bunker (also the creators of Satanik). Kriminal features an English master thief named Anthony Logan, who dons a black-and-gold costume with a skeletal mask. He is helped by a female companion (Lola Hudson), and is dogged by an Inspector (Milton of Scotland Yard). Apparently, Max Bunker was displeased with writer-director Umberto Lenzi’s screen adaptation, as a much younger actor played the character than depicted in the fumetto, but the source material’s sadistic tone was watered down to a more "lighthearted" approach.
“Lighthearted” is an adjective one seldom associates with Lenzi's films, but so it is with his adaptation of the popular comic book character. While the plot is interesting, it never truly commands your attention. At best, the film seems reserved.
The film's true novelty is in the casting of the German-born Portuguese-Spanish star Helga Liné (perhaps best remembered today for her 1970s Spanish horror films). With her unique screen presence and distinctive eyebrows, she is well cast as in vampish roles. (The Italian superhero genre kept her employed for a while.) She is featured here in the dual role of Inge-Trude, two couriers who are carrying jewels. Of course both of them aren’t transporting the goods- one is really a plant to distract the people who want to steal them.
Of course, Kriminal is too smart to be fooled by a bait and switch routine... or is he? This story soon fizzles out, despite some interesting setpieces, including a stunt on a moving train, and location shooting in Istanbul.
Dutch actor Glenn Saxson (real name Roel Bos) is however perfectly cast as Kriminal. His clean-cut, sharp features so much recall the looks of Flash Gordon or Brick Bradford. In another place and time, he would have a made a great matinee idol of Saturday afternoon serials.
Alas, the only time the film genuinely feels like a comic book is in the abrupt ending, when the climax is abridged into a few comic strip panels. It is a lazy way to wrap up the movie, and feels like a cheat. Did they lose the live action footage, and opt to present it this way as a last-minute save?
“Lighthearted” is an adjective one seldom associates with Lenzi's films, but so it is with his adaptation of the popular comic book character. While the plot is interesting, it never truly commands your attention. At best, the film seems reserved.
The film's true novelty is in the casting of the German-born Portuguese-Spanish star Helga Liné (perhaps best remembered today for her 1970s Spanish horror films). With her unique screen presence and distinctive eyebrows, she is well cast as in vampish roles. (The Italian superhero genre kept her employed for a while.) She is featured here in the dual role of Inge-Trude, two couriers who are carrying jewels. Of course both of them aren’t transporting the goods- one is really a plant to distract the people who want to steal them.
Of course, Kriminal is too smart to be fooled by a bait and switch routine... or is he? This story soon fizzles out, despite some interesting setpieces, including a stunt on a moving train, and location shooting in Istanbul.
Dutch actor Glenn Saxson (real name Roel Bos) is however perfectly cast as Kriminal. His clean-cut, sharp features so much recall the looks of Flash Gordon or Brick Bradford. In another place and time, he would have a made a great matinee idol of Saturday afternoon serials.
Alas, the only time the film genuinely feels like a comic book is in the abrupt ending, when the climax is abridged into a few comic strip panels. It is a lazy way to wrap up the movie, and feels like a cheat. Did they lose the live action footage, and opt to present it this way as a last-minute save?
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