Sergio Martino is undoubtedly one of the premier luminaries of the Giallo genre, having made such as important classics as The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh and The Case of the Scorpion's Tail. Martino made a series of five Giallo's in the early seventies, and while this could easily be seen as the sixth entry; it rarely gets a mention in discussions about the others, and the reason for that is down to the fact that this film arguably isn't even a Giallo. The film features clear cut Giallo elements; we have a killer, young girls being murdered, fair amounts of gore etc etc; but then we also have a barrage of car chases, shootouts, police procedure and most strangely of all; a completely out of place dose of humour! It all starts like any other Giallo might, as we witness the murder of a prostitute at the hands of an unseen killer. Then we are introduced to a man who hooks up with a local thief and the pair go round stealing prostitute's handbags. The mystery man is later revealed to be a police inspector, and he has his own unorthodox methods for getting to the bottom of the convoluted plot.The film was released in 1975, which is towards the end of the Giallo's golden period and near the start of the Polizi trend that took over it. This film falls somewhere between the two successful Italian exports and the result is a bit muddled - with the emphasis being more on general crime than the murders. Then we've got this comedy element, which really is completely misguided, and all the more strange for the fact that the screenplay was written by the great Ernesto Gastaldi. It really does add nothing; the only effect being the undermining of several tense and well worked sequences! It's all the more strange considering the plot - this is a dark film handling themes of underage sex, murder and prostitution so I really don't know what Gastaldi was thinking! However, the film is redeemed by plenty of tense sequences and a decent car chases which is sure to please the Polizi fans. The film also features a superb leading performance from Claudio Cassinelli as the unorthodox inspector. There's also an odd score which has shade's of Goblin mixed in with elevator music. Overall, this is not one of the great Martino Giallo's; but it's not too bad and should please a lot of Giallo fans.

An authentic Italian 70's Crime/Giallo movie with loads of comedy elements and even slapstick? What's next …a Disney's Pixar movie featuring graphic sex and gory massacres? Say what you want about director Sergio Martino, but you certainly can't claim he hasn't experimented with all the different genres imaginable. He directed several brilliant and prototype Gialli ("Torso", "Case of the Scorpion's Tail"), but also Spaghetti Westerns ("A Man Called Blade"), relentless cop thrillers ("The Violent Professionals"), sleazy comedies ("Sex with a Smile"), Apocalyptic Sci-Fi ("After the Fall of New York"), Cyborg action-flicks ("Fists of Steel"), cheesy monster movies ("Big Alligator River") and cannibal adventures ("Mountain of the Cannibal God"). Yet, of his entire versatile repertoire, "Suspected Death of a Minor" is perhaps his most awkward accomplishment. Judging from the title, the basic plot synopsis and the picture images on the back of the DVD box, the film looks like a standard Giallo, but the story further unfolds itself more as a bitter crime thriller interlarded with large bits of comedy. And the absolute strangest thing is that this unusual hodgepodge of styles and genre also actually works, or at least up to a certain degree. It's hard to picture yourself a Giallo plot, covering crude topics such as teen prostitution networks and vile murders, and simultaneously witness comical car chases and clichéd running gags. It's rather difficult to write a brief summary of the plot without giving away surprise details or essential twists. Most reviews – even the one on the DVD box – already reveal a nice detail regarding the main character's identity even though the script keeps it a secret up until 45 minutes into the film! I think it's best to know nothing about the story and simply watch it unfold. I'll simple reveal that all the required ingredients of a supreme Giallo dish are present, including a vicious reflecting sunglasses-wearing killer, rooftop & roller coaster showdowns and perverted men with money & power. Claudio Cassinelli depicts one of the most likable characters I've ever seen in an Italian film. He's eloquent and witty, but ultimately arrogant and provocative towards everyone who crosses his path. There are a couple of brutal murders on display but the amount of female nudity is sorely disappointing, presumably because Martino didn't engage his heavenly luscious muse Edwige Fenech this time. Luciano Michellini's musical score is reminiscent to Goblin's work for Dario Argento and the photography is very nice. "Suspected Death of a Minor" is a good film and recommended to fans of the director and the genre. However, make sure it's not your first acquaintance with the Giallo, otherwise you might get a misconception of what this wondrous sub genre is all about.

I have to say that before I comment on this title that I am a fan of Sergio Martino's films. Particularly 'Torso', which I rate as one of the greatest of all Italian horror films. Therefore, my enthusiasm for this film and my high rating should be taken with a pinch of salt by anyone looking for a classic giallo. This is no 'Solange'. In fact, this film could easily slip into the comedy-action-thriller genre. In its defence, I would say that it does have gorgeous topless girls savagely murdered in fantastic close-up and a catchy score too. Therefore, there is enough to keep fans of the genre interested. But, and it is a big but, there is no mystery element as we see the killer's face in all the death scenes. Are you still keen? Then read on.The plot: A young hooker is discovered savagely murdered by inspector Germi, played by Claudio Cassinelli. He then embarks on a rather unorthodox investigation in search of the killer. Along the way, he happens to enlist the services of Giannino, a little pickpocket, and they both proceed to uncover a teenaged girl trafficking ring with connections that lead all the way up to the top.There are some fine comedy moments in this film. How about this little exchange between Germi and a young woman he is questioning, to wet your appetite? "I'm collecting Stamps." – "Oh yeah? Far out. Then stick one on your ass and send yourself to New York 'cause you're getting on my nerves." If this is your kind of comedy then there is plenty more where that came from. I only wish that the jokes and slapstick could have continued throughout the film.Sazuma present the film restored and in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen. You get the original Italian language soundtrack with English, German and Dutch subtitles; along with a feature commentary by film critics Christian Kebler and Robert Zion. A featurette titled 'Crime Scene Milan', the Italian trailer and a poster gallery complete the package.The bottom-line? Yes, it is a peculiar film and in no way can it rank alongside 'Torso', 'Excite Me' or 'The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh'. Nevertheless, for Sergio Martino fans and must-see-every giallo types, this has to be a must-buy DVD.

This quite rare movie by Sergio Martino is an odd thing. As the title presumes, it starts off like a typical giallo: A man with sunglasses stalks and slashes a young woman. But after the murder, the movie becomes a film in style of the "poliziescho", the Italian crime movie of the 1970s, as the audience follows an undercover cop searching for the killer and also for the kidnappers of a young boy (but the audience doesn't know for a long time either that the cop really is one and that the murder case and the kidnapping rely to each other). All this culminates (within the first half of the movie) in a car chase which offers enough gags to make the scene pure slapstick.After that, the giallo style returns as the sunglassed killer goes on a killing spree. The crime movie is back as the plot unfolds to have its motive in mob-style drug dealing. And let's not forget: The killings have also to do with professional child prostitution and abuse. A really wild mix, even more so if one considers that the film sometimes boosts cheap (if mostly funny) humor.The cool sound track is reminiscent of the early scores by "Goblin" for Dario Argento's films, and it seems that Ernesto Gastaldi, who wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay with director Martino, was influenced by Massimo Dallamano's great "La Polizia Chiede Aiuto" that was made one year earlier.All in all, this surely is not Martino's best film (his "pure" gialli are more enjoyable), but if one gets used to the unusual concoction of such different topics and styles, it's an entertaining and sometimes hilariously funny, fast paced and thrilling movie that even boosts some harsh social comment.