Amando Crispino's L'ETRUSCO UCCIDE ANCORA aka. THE ETRUSCAN KILLS AGAIN is an interesting and somewhat unusual Giallo from the greatest Giallo-year 1972. 1972 was the year of several of the greatest genre masterpieces including Sergio Martino's YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED ROOM AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY, Fulci's DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING, Massimo Dallamano's WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE and Emilio Miraglia's THE RED QUEEN KILLS SEVEN TIMES. While L'ETRUSCO UCCIDE ANCORA is not as essential as these aforementioned titles it is highly interesting and creepy as the sight of this Giallo's mandatory murder series is an ancient Etruscan burial ground, which gives this particular Giallo a supernatural atmosphere.The American archaeologist Jason Porter (Alex Cord) is head of a team that has discovered an ancient Etruscan burial ground including fascinating and mysterious pieces of mural art. Shortly after the discovery, a young couple is murdered in the same manner as depicted in the Etruscan tomb, which had not been opened for 2,500 years. It seems as if someone is trying to point out Jason, a womanizer with a drinking problem, as the murderer. Is the culprit one of the eccentric people in Jason's surrounding, or has an Etruscan fiend risen from tomb to perform his bloody deeds? As in most good Gialli, almost every character in the movie is a suspect.L'ETRUSCO UCCIDE ANCORA is elegantly filmed in nice Northern Italian locations and accompanied by a very good and intense score from the great Riz Ortolani. The murders are quite bloody and well-made, most of them being Giallo-typically filmed from the murderer's perspective. The female cast members are all lovely to look at, especially Samantha Eggar and Christina Von Blanc, who is known for her mostly exhibitionist roles in some of the Spanish Exploitation-icon Jess Franco's movies. Besides Alex Cord, the cast includes several other well-known actors including John Marley (THE GODFATHER) as a sadistic elderly orchestra conductor and the always-sinister Horst Frank who plays a flamboyantly homosexual designer here.Overall, L'ETRUSCO UCCIDE ANCORA may not be an outstanding Giallo-masterpiece, but it is definitely an elegant and creepy specimen of the genre that should not be missed by my fellow Giallo- and Eurohorror fans. My rating: 7.5/10

I'm a big fan of Giallo, and The Dead Are Alive has been one of my main targets for some time now. With that in mind, I've got to say that the film is something of a disappointment; but there's more than enough good elements to ensure that Armando Crispino's film is a more than passable Giallo attempt, and it's certainly one of the more unique entries in the genre. The film forsakes many of the common Giallo trademarks such as a black gloved killer and numerous sex scenes in favour of a supernatural angle and a plot that focuses on mystery rather than murder; although the convoluted plot that makes some Giallo and ruins others is very much in place. The central character is Jason; an alcoholic archaeologist forced to turn detective when he discovers an ancient Etruscan tomb and two people are murdered in the same way that is depicted on some ancient drawings inside the tomb, which haven't been seen by human eyes in over two thousand years. The line-up of red herrings is vast, and includes a composer, his fire-scarred wife, a sadistic torturer of insects and a homosexual choreographer. But of course, Jason is the prime suspect...I've seen a lot of Giallo's that are happy to merely wallow in the common genre elements, so it is very much to director Armando Crispino's credit that this Giallo breaks rules and develops it's own personality resulting from that. The burial ground central locale provides a good setting for this film, as it's dirty and gritty and suits the mysterious atmosphere. The plot does get a little too convoluted at times, and the film suffers from a few instances where there isn't a lot going on. The first murder takes place only minutes into the film; and it's a brutal affair as a couple are clubbed to death. However, there's not a lot in the way of bloodshed after that first murder; and the mystery plot isn't always enough of a distraction. The acting is a little flat, with Alex Cord not really convincing as an archaeologist, and the fact that the film lacks an established Giallo heroine is a negative point. The supernatural elements are well implemented at first, and it soon becomes obvious the killer is flesh and blood. The fact that the most obvious red herring is the murderer means that the ending isn't a surprise; but as far as atmosphere and absurdity are concerned, The Dead Are Alive is definitely a Giallo highlight.

I am not a fan of Armando Crispino's often praised "Autopsy", but the title ("The Dead Are Alive") and the cover of the (allegedly uncut) DVD version of this movie promised some cheap thrills, so I gave it a try. Wrong move! It's a dud. Not only is the story very convoluted, but the director also has a very poor sense of time and place - his failure to clearly establish where a scene is taking place, how the characters got there or even who they are sometimes, leaves you feeling completely disorientated. The interrelationships between some of the characters are also very poorly defined...be prepared for a lot "wait a minute, who's that guy supposed to be again?" questions. The male lead is also very uncharismatic, he seems to be doing most of his acting with his fists. The best thing in the movie is Riz Ortolani's beautiful score. (*1/2)P.S. The print used for the DVD is rather severely damaged, and the film is presented in a distracting-as-hell ultra-widescreen aspect ratio.

Even though this film is entitled under its German title, 'L'Etrusco Uccide Ancora' - how it is called in Italian - is overall a typical Italian thriller of the Seventies. Directed with style by Armando Crispino, who also directed the breathtaking 'Macchie Solari' (aka Autopsy, The Victim), the film suggests supernatural forces involved in the plot. That makes the whole thing even more atmospheric and will keep you on the edge of your seats. The German video versions are heavily cut concerning the plot (one version is also cut concerning the violent killings), while only the Danish video version appears to be complete (according to the excellent English book 'Blood and Black Lace'). Nevertheless, if you are able to get this gem on video, get it: This giallo truly delivers!