Diabolik (John Phillip Law) is a mischievous Robin Hood-type bank robber. His lover, Eva (Marisa Mell), assists him with his robberies. Diabolik will do anything for Eva; he generally gives her anything he robs. The two also take great joy in sharing heists as if it is a sport or a game they can share. Diabolik lives in a massive, underground lair where he stores all his valuables, such as money, gold, jewellery, and his stunning collection of Jaguar cars.
But after Diabolik thrived in a recent heist, scoring a large sum of cash, European police officers, including a man known as Inspector Ginko (Michael Piccoli), started to put several clues together and attempted to capture the duo. Also hot on Diabolik’s tail is a dangerous and powerful mobster named Ralph (Adolfo Celi). Can Diabolik outsmart them all and avoid being captured? Can Diabolik walk away with the stolen money without having to return any of it?
Performances, for the most part, are pleasing to see, and I was surprised to find that Diabolik, as a character, has little to no backstory. The character is also incredibly light on when it comes to dialogue. Within the film, it will be up to the viewers to decide why he does what he does. Is it the thrills? Or because the man is just out of control and having a good time? While Diabolik is not necessarily a hero, the character has so much fun outsmarting people that I could not help but cheer him on within the story. It is kind of an odd risk as a film, but it certainly works that the lead character takes joy in stealing and attempts to get away with it. The plot is also unpredictable, and I found the film’s third act and final moments rather pleasing and unexpected.
I enjoyed the film’s effects, including car explosions and the general creativity regarding backdrops. The soundtrack might seem slightly repetitive, but I still found it pleasing. The film’s costumes (which might be questionable in the present day) are also unique and creative for its time. Thanks to Imprint Films, this cult classic from the ’60s has been re-released on Blu-ray for the first time. The film also includes features and an LCPM 2.0 Mono track. I was also grateful to discover the option of subtitles, which seems rare on classic releases such as this. Overall, this film is entertaining for movie lovers who enjoy the James Bond franchise or even Austin Powers. This cult film is highly creative and fun and generally left me quite impressed, considering it was filmed in the late ’60s.
7.0/10
7th November 2021
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
PODCASTS ARE AVAILABLE!
0 Comments