Matalo! / ¡Mátalo! (Cesare Canevari, 1970)

I can understand why people might not like this one. The opening scenes are well directed and the psychedelic rock soundtrack manages to enhance the excitement. I love the part when Burt/Bart, Bill and Ted show up at the ghost town. It reminded me of Django Kill but this one took the horror elements to the next level. Everything up until this point is well thought out by the director. For example, the sand falling and blowing in the wind was a clever since it appears almost like a ghost. Then when we get to the night time, you feel as if you’re watching a Freddy Krueger film for a moment. The director builds up a lot of tension but it never really amounts to much since there’s virtually no plot after this point. I think the secret to enjoying this film is to not expect too much from it. It’s best to try and accept it for what it is. I’m not sure how to rate it but it’s certainly not to be missed.

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Watched this for the first time tonight, and unsurprisingly I’m not sure what I think of it…I guess it’s okay, I suppose. I loved the style, Claudia Gravy, the locations, the music and the direction, (in fact I’d say it’s one of the best directed films in the genre) but the ending wasn’t all that thrilling, Lou Castel was introduced too late on and the boomerangs were a bit silly. I did like it casually and I can see why it splits people’s opinions, but either way it was definetely worth giving it a go.

Finally watched this, since somebody kindly posted it to YouTube. All I have to say is… well that was fucking weird :slight_smile:

I don’t fancy hippie influence in spags, The hippie movement was a setback when it happened. Stayed clear then, and stay clear now. Films like Matalo!, Blindman, The Specialist and Four of the apocalypse springs to mind.

Matalo just got weird for the sake of being weird. I like Blindman and Four of the Apocalypse, but The Specialists is overrated as hell.

I might give Four of the apocalypse another try someday, but I’ll need a better release. The others are out. :relaxed:

I’d say this one is mostly a hippie garbage. No story, no dialogues, incredibly long scenes and shots where noone talks and nothing really happens, hippie-like dressed characters, weird camera and even weirder score. It is obviously an experimental movie and it feels almost like the director tried how much a viewer can bear. The movie pretty much sums up why not to take drugs (or maybe for some why to take them). However I loved the scene with the horse! That was one of the best scenes in sw and simply for that it is worth a try (you can always FF if it is too boring). I simply love these scenes where a man has a special bond with his animal friend. Otherwise it is really very demanding for a casual viewer to sit through this one since it is mostly originality and weirdness for its own sake and has very little to tell.

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Rewatched it once again after few years. It actually gets better and better with every view. Funny thing is I always notice something new what didn’t show up on the spaghetti radar last time. The hippie vibe gets along with westerns in general pretty easily if you ask me and this is no exception. Love the costumes!

The more I think about it, the more I realise this could be the greatest film ever made. I’ll give it a rewatch soon.

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Yes, this is the greatest film ever made, but not everyone knows this yet.

Love the music and off beat, weird vibe.

I’ve seen the trailer which looks terrific.

The first time I watched Mátalo!/Kill Him was one and a half year ago on a very low quality Youtube video so the impression was not good. I didn’t even know about the “precursor” with almost the same plot, but Kill The Wicked (8/10) is now 11th on my Top SW list.

Today’s watching of a high image quality video on Youtube of Mátalo! resulted in that I liked it a bit more this time, But the hippie style with some slow motion and the frequent horror movie sound effects decrease my appreciation of it. I will now rate it a 5 or 6/10.
The Ghost town was “Golden City” near Hoyo de Manzanares and there was some Tabernas scenes including the stage coach robbery. I couldn’t identify the location of the first western town. (Or maybe it was the western town located at Colmenar Viejo).

Correction to DB info: the German Wild Coyote DVD is 89 min and the Italian Medusa DVD is also 89 min. It appears all releases have been 89 min.

The German DVD appears to use the exact same transfer as the Italian DVD - here’s a comparison between the two (the frame isn’t exact but you can clearly see its the same)


Wild East vs Medusa/Wild Coyote


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WE’s signature interlace look, that ‘We’ all love so much! :crazy_face:

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thanks for confirming this!

IMDb says

A character known as Professor James Rorke appeared in a short, deleted scene wherein he offers Lou Castel’s character a meal of biscuits and gravy at the hotel. It can be found on the rare American edition of the DVD.

is this true?

Also: we list two runtimes on the film’s page, does anyone know more info for certain?

Never been able to sit through more than the first 15 minutes … will have to try again when suitably sedated.

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This film’s page in the SWDb has been upgraded to the new “SWDb 3.0” format. Please have a look and let us know if there’s something you can add (information, trivia, links, pictures, etc.).

Wonder who loves this movie more, you or @Tom_B

I keep meaning to revisit this, but Shoot the Living, Pray for the Dead always gets offended.

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Maybe Tom has actually watched it … I just have a strange irresistible urge to hit the OFF button,