Damiano Damiani Movies

Banking on the release of the 2005 remake comes The Amityville Horror DVD Collection from MGM Home Entertainment. The first three movies are included, plus a bonus disc that features an inside look at the new film, along with two History Channel documentaries on the actual Amityville case. Of the film discs, only the first one comes complete with bells and whistles. With a new high-definition anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, the first movie looks vibrant and sharp, full of atmospheric sound design made to make the hairs on the back of your neck spring to life. Extras include an exclusive audio commentary by Dr. Hanz Holzer, the author of the original Murder in Amityville book on which the movie was based. The good doctor does a nice job of laying out his side of the story, while also taking the occasional jab at Hollywood. The disc also contains the well-made "For God's Sake, Get Out!" documentary, which includes new interviews with both James Brolin and Margot Kidder. The two let loose stories of their clashes on the set and obvious moments of over-acting on both of their parts, bringing a candidness to the piece that is quite refreshing compared to many studio-created fluff pieces often found on DVDs. Seven fantastic radio spots are included on the disc as well, plus the original theatrical trailer. Amityville II and 3-D have been given the 1.85:1 anamorphic treatment, with added full-screen options on the flip side of each dual-sided disc. Sound options include a 5.1 Dolby Digital track for the third entry, while the second one got shafted with a measly mono signal. Trailers have been included for each film, but don't look for much else on either DVD. MGM definitely put some work into the set, and it shows. This is a perfect box set for anyone who's looking to bone up on his or her Amityville knowledge before the Ryan Reynolds remake comes out. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

The complex cross-currents of conflicting loyalties among the inhabitants of Palermo, Sicily, come across vividly in this romantic thriller. Wealthy young Ruggero is the American son of an Italian mother. He returns to Sicily for his mother's funeral and looks in on the reformatory for wayward girls that his mother gave money to. One of the girls, Lucia (Jo Champa) manages to catch his eye, and soon he is involved in sorting out his own and the girl's loyalties with regard to her mobster connections and his law-abiding affinities. Evenutally a short-term romance takes place between the two of them amid a welter of legal complications, but Lucia understands that they are from different worlds, and will not hear of marriage. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

The real-life tragedies wrought by organized crime are mirrored in this fast-paced, suspense-filled action thriller by Damiano Damiani about Mario (Michele Placido), a young man from a Sicilian family who runs a pizza place in Brooklyn. All seems normal until Mario is called to Palermo by the Mafia, and his role as a hitman is revealed. On the way to his assassination job, Mario stops by his impoverished family's home and cunningly tries to manipulate his brother Michele (Mark Chase) into joining him. Unlike Mario, Mark has an extreme aversion to killing anything, not even the colt in a field that his brother wants him to "practice" on. But the love of Michele's young life, Cecilia (Simona Cavallario), a 14-year-old teen forced into prostitution by her mother, needs to be saved from her degrading existence -- and so Michele is vulnerable to making some quick cash against his better judgment. The results of his decision and Mario's hit are not the standard gore and violence otherwise seen in action thrillers, but a more human and humane look at the real effects of murder on the innocent, and the not so innocent. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Delving into the horrific history of the infamous Long Island haunted house, this prequel to 1979's popular chiller The Amityville Horror is loosely based on the DeFeo murders but is at heart a straightforward horror-exploitation film with an Exorcist twist. When the violently dysfunctional Montelli family moves into the rustic abode (claimed to have been built on an Indian burial ground), the standard haunted-house clichés (bleeding walls, swarms of flies, bubbling black goop) give way to a more direct demonic attack on the eldest son -- who develops an unhealthy interest in his nubile younger sister, followed by a much more lethal attraction to dad's shotgun. In a desperate attempt to purge the evil, the local priest tries to perform an exorcism...with unexpected results. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

While a CIA agent prepares to assist in the overthrow of an African nation, he discovers that his friend is interfering in the country's politics. ~ All Movie Guide

Franco Nero here plays a film producer whose film is about to be seized by a stiff-necked Sicilian judge, but the judge is murdered before the seizure order can be given. This death has had an effect similar to kicking open an ant's nest, and the corrupt local politicians are all scrambling to do their best to confuse the investigation. Witnesses die in mysterious ways, and it looks at first as though some really heavy politics are behind the whole affair. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this psychological melodrama, a nun becomes obsessed with purifying the souls of those dwelling in her hostel-convent. The guests, who inevitably become entangled with one another, include, a reproachable Polish priest and Nazi collaborator, a murderous widow, and a reporter who has come to do a story on the priest. Tragedy ensues and moral corruption abounds until the end, when they realize that the nun was right all along. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This curious film attempts to mix suspense and comedy as it details the efforts of Mussolini's Italy to deal with the public outcry over a series of child sex murders. "Il Duce" must find someone to serve as a plausible culprit in order to restore public order and calm fears. While Girolomoni (Nino Manfredi), who is innocent of the crime, is released after only a year in prison, he returns without having his name exonerated and is an outcast in society; his name has become a byword for child sex crimes. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

A mild-mannered police commissioner (Martin Balsam) is frustrated at every attempt to capture a political crimelord with legal means, so he is forced to turn to vigilante justice to get his man. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

This erotic sexploitation feature concerns a couple and their pursuit of sexual fulfillment with each other -- and their mutually agreed upon third bed guests. Lesbian love angles includes the woman's step-daughter. Alberto (Jean Sorel) is soon left alone when the women decides his services are no longer required. After acting on his erotic fantasies, he is left alone and driven to madness when his girlfriend marries another after leaving with her lesbian lover. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide