Enzo G. Castellari Movies

The title tells all in this western. The trouble is that it is difficult to tell whether or not the film is a serious venture or a parody. There is certainly plenty of violence. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Based on actual World War II events, La Battaglia d'Inghilterra chronicles the success of a German intelligence group's efforts to infiltrate the British army on the eve of the historic Battle of Britain. Directed by Enzo G. Castellari, the film features Ida Galli, Christian Hay, Van Johnson, Renzo Palmer, and Luigi Pistilli. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

International actors Franco Nero, James Whitmore and Fernando Rey pick up a few tax-free bucks in the Italian High Crime. The plot (perhaps cashing in on Rey's participation in 1971's The French Connection) involves a Mafia boss, at large in the city of Genoa. We can't tell the good guys from the bad guys at time, which may or may not be the point of this kaleidescopic film. Well, we lied: Franco Nero is the good guy, even if his tactics are sometimes a step below noble. Delia Boccardo is the woman in the case. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When the police cannot prosecute heinous crimes effectively, some very brave men will do their jobs for them, this film seems to say. Carlo (Franco Nero) gets in the way of a group of crooks who are trying to rob a bank, and they mutilate him horribly for his trouble. When the police cannot quite manage to find these thugs, Carlo goes after them himself. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Half-breed Keoma (Franco Nero) returns to his border hometown after service in the Civil War and finds it under the control of Caldwell (Donald O'Brien), an ex-Confederate raider, and his vicious gang of thugs. To make matters worse, Keoma's three half-brothers have joined forces with Caldwell, and make it painfully clear that his return is an unwelcome one. Determined to break Caldwell and his brothers' grip on the town, Keoma partners with his father's former ranch hand (Woody Strode) to exact violent revenge. ~ Paul Gaita, Rovi

Ursula Andress and Michael Sarrazin star in director Enzo G. Castellari's historical comedy action film detailing the lusty escapades of an 18th Century rogue. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

An undercover cop deeply entrenched in a lucrative international drug syndicate (Fabio Testi) and a trigger-happy Interpol agent (David Hemmings) attempt to survive on the streets long enough to bring the criminal element to their knees in director Enzo Castellari's explosive poliziotteschi. The city of Rome is about to erupt into violence, and as Inspector Fabio and agent Mike Hamilton become tied up in the twisted world of hard drugs and sexual depravity, the only thing standing between order and complete chaos are two tough law enforcers who may already be too far gone to get the job done. Now, with little time to spare and the specter of death looming on every city block, it's time to pick sides for the final battle and take on a hail of gunfire to take back the streets once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Convicted of crimes while in France during World War II, five soldiers are imprisoned by the Army. They later escape to try and make a difference in a crucial battle. ~ John Bush, Rovi

This unusual Italian-Spanish co-production begins with a woman being pulled down into a lake by an unseen assailant. Her daughter Lillian (Eleonora Cristofani under the name "Leonora Fani") returns to her home village years later, and is attacked by an axe-wielding maniac. Lillian has the odd habit of passing out every time she has sex (a very convenient plot twist from screenwriters Leila Buongiomo and Jose Maria Nunez), and one time awakens to find her partners dead. Lillian also has a psychic link with her evil voyeuristic sister Lilith (Patricia Adriani), who is possessed by the spirit of Kira, a long-dead witch, and the two must ultimately duel it out in a climactic catfight in which they rip off each others' clothes. The result is alternately atmospheric and laughably stupid, perhaps explained by director Enzo G. Castellari's last-minute hiring. Castellari is totally out of his element here, and the studio added extra footage after the fact. Nevertheless, there are some interesting moments, and familiar faces like Massimo Vanni, Antonio Mayans, Luis Induni, and American TV veteran Vincent Gardenia for genre devotees. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

A quaint little beach town is terrorized by a bloodthirsty great white shark in the infamous Italian Jaws rip-off The Last Shark. As usual, the powers that be turn a blind eye to it for tourist reasons, although eventually even they cannot escape the ocean of blood at their doorstep. Cue novelist Peter Benton (James Franciscus) and shark hunter Ron Hamer (Vic Morrow), who valiantly seek to kill the beast. Best known for the Universal Pictures lawsuit that found the film's North American theatrical release cut short and subsequent releases barred due to the blatant similarities to Steven Spielberg's blockbuster and its sequel, The Last Shark lives on in movie legend and Japanese laserdisc bootlegs for those who can find it. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

In this run-of-the-mill, derivative film about vulgar road warriors in the year 2019 -- after a nuclear holocaust -- the two macho heroes (Giancarlo Prete and Fred Williamson) have to single-handedly save a band of religious nomads plagued by the evil Templars. Between scenes and characters lifted from several preceding successes, flat acting, and a general lack of originality, I Nuovi Barbari has nothing new about it. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi