DELIRIUM (1972) – The Dungeon Review!

I can’t get enough of 70′s Giallo. The Italian horror-thrillers of this period fascinate the hell out of me. I love the fashion and furnishings of the period and the endlessly intriguing parade of players. The directors, composers,
cinematographers, actors and actresses in these films offer up all sorts of interesting facts, opinions and stories on the special features. Big Kudos to distribution labels like Blue Underground who do a bang up job of restoring these awesome obscure masterpieces and add great special features. Once again, Blue Underground comes through with one of the best supplements ever. Delirium features an uncut International version as well as an alternate American version. This might seem like no big whoop but you really need to see both versions! There is this Vietnam flashback segment in the American version that definitely adds a new dimension to the story. It’s like getting two films for the price of one! The other feature on the disc is The Theorem Of Delirium that presents an interview with director Renato Polselli and star Mickey Hargitay. Bravo! Blue Underground. Bravo!

Criminal psychologist Herbert Lyutak is harboring a dark secret. Herbert is a violent sexual predator who has killed several young women. When he is identified by a bartender who saw him leave with the most recent victim he becomes a suspect. His wife Marcia is also suspicious after finding a bloodied dress. But Marcia loves her husband regardless, and pleads with him to stay with her. She pledges to allow him to do whatever he desires, even if it means getting rough. But Herbert has been rendered impotent courtesy of his extra-curricular activities. Overwhelmed with guilt he sets himself up to get caught in the act. But just before he has a chance to kill the cops bait, a woman is killed in another part of the park. It would seem the good doctor is not the only violent sexual deviant on the block. Meanwhile Marcia is plagued by nightmares of torture and lesbianism. Soon both husband and wife are strolling together down the corridors of complete and utter delirium!

After watching the uncut International version of Delirium and then checking out The Theorem Of Delirium feature I decided to keep the film for an extra night and watch the American cut. My experience thus far with older foreign horror is there is usually a clothed and unclothed version or one fairly brief scene removed/added you barely notice. Not with Delirium however. If you rent this one and dig it like I did then you absolutely must watch both versions. The American version not only has a character that doesn’t exist in the International but has the aforementioned Vietnam flashback. We are shown an injured Herbert cut in amongst what I assume is actually borrowed war footage and are given facts via a voiceover about the doctor. The most relevant bit being he will need rehabilitation before entering back into society. I’m guessing the rehabilitation didn’t work. Also relevant is Marcia’s presence during the scene as a nurse. This goes a long way to explaining her devotion despite his deviant and dangerous ways. Now this is the kind of love story I like! He is a predator and she is just nutty. Herbert and Marcia do seem to genuinely love each other. I think Marcia tells Herbert she loves him about 100 times throughout the film.

The opening scene of the International version has Herbert giving a young woman in a bar a lift. After she realizes she won’t be making it to her destination she gets hysterical and asks him to stop the car. She wastes no time hurrying away, kicking her high heels off to make it easier to travel. Herbert is right behind her and eventually catches up with her in a creek near a waterfall. He rips her clothes off, strangles and bludgeons her to death. You don’t see a lot of water kills that aren’t in bathtubs or films that feature some manner of killer fish. I thought this was a really effective scene and the use of the rushing waterfall is very well done. There is a significant body count by the films end but the kills aren’t graphic or gory. Although the lack of violence is a wee bit disappointing I still thought the death scenes were effective. What really adds spice to Delirium is Marcia’s dream sequences. The copious nudity, masturbation, lesbian sex and torture make for some kinky eye candy definitely not for the prudish. Delirium definitely delivers on its title. The intensity, and interesting cinematography with its odd cuts, long lingering shots and moody lighting made me feel like I was falling into delirium myself. The bizarre but intriguing score compliments it all quite nicely.

I thought Mickey Hargitay was an inspired choice for Dr. Herbert Lyutak. Hargitay is a former Mr. Universe and was married to Jayne Mansfield. I had to include this awesome picture of Mickey and Jayne from back in the day. Delirium would have been about 20 years after this picture I’m guessing. Hargitay’s delivery is stoic and bubbling with intensity all at once and he has this thing going on with his eye that I couldn’t ignore but somehow added to the characters quirks. I also thought lovely Rita Calderoni was great as Marcia. Calderoni shows the appropriate amount of emotion without going too over-the-top. Okay, she does go a little over the top a couple times but I thought it was delightful. No one comes close to out-crazying Christa Barrymore who doesn’t show up until the end of the film and then spends the last 15 or so minutes giving an insane performance that takes over-acting to a new level. The supporting characters are all pretty wacky and wonderful and include a creepy peeping Tom, a masturbating maid and an inept inspector.

Delirium is a delightfully odd little film. A violent, psychosexual, pseudo-romantic little yarn told in an unconventional manner complimented by hypnotizing visuals. It could have been more graphic in the violence department but otherwise, damn entertaining stuff! If you love the early 70′s Italian stuff and you dig it a bit kinky and quirky Delirium should not disappoint! Highly Recommended!

Dungeon Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Renato Polselli

Starring: Mickey Hargitay, Rita Calderoni, Raul Lovecchio, Carmen Young, Christa Barrymore, Tano Cimarosa