Scanialara
You won't be disappointed!
Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
Glimmerubro
It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.
Anoushka Slater
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Michael A. Martinez
Grizzled cop Richard Harrison faces off against psychotic escaped con Helmut Berger in this tense and nasty action thriller.BEAST WITH A GUN certainly feels far more amateurish than anything put out at the time by Umberto Lenzi, Enzo Castellari, or Sergio Martino at the time. Half the movie is out of focus, the 180 degree line gets crossed left and right, certain scenes drag on way too long, and the final fight involves the two most obvious stunt doubles this side of Star Trek. There's so many strange goofs in the first scene alone that MST3K certainly could have had a field day. Unfortunately I doubt that this could ever have run on TV owing to the heavy load of mean- spirited violence and semi-consensual sex/rape scenes involving Berger and Marisa Mell.Marisa Mell, a far way off from DANGER DIABOLIK and starting to look every bit like the wreck she was starting to become off-screen, plays victim to Nanni Vitale's evil schemes. This unfortunately mirrored real life as Berger and Mell did supposedly have a drug- addled fling which took both their lives even further into a spiral. I can't say Berger, who's creepy, somewhat childish perversity was always his biggest strength as an actor, fares much better with his pretty face starting to puff up. Here, a 37-year-old Mell and a 33- year-old Berger both look about like Peter O'Toole did around when he was 34 or so in NIGHT OF THE GENERALS... as though the heavy helpings of partying, drinking, drugs, and general excess were starting to take their toll even at a relatively young age.The real interesting story here has more to do with the behind the scenes drama. As a movie, BEAST WITH A GUN could hardly be more routine with no real narrative surprises and not really enough action to drum up enough excitement. Richard Harrison gets unfortunately totally wasted as a nothing character while mostly the movie revolves around Berger and his antics, unfortunately with the edge taken off by his banal and clichéd dialog. In my mind, the most memorable (and comical) moment comes late in the film with the shooting of the two slow motion police officers. All the shots of the cops are in slow motion while Berger with his hostages and henchmen waiting for them are in normal speed. They trade plenty of annoyed glances while the cops SLOWLY advance on them, giving the impression that they're wondering what's taking so long.I must admit that it's all given a certain scuzzy charm and character by the soundtrack, which is B-movie gold in its simplicity. Good luck ever getting that one out of your head..
christopher-underwood
Known as Mad Dog Killer and Beast With A Gun, my print comes up with the title, Furious Mad Dog Killer and I have to say all titles are appropriate. This is not sophisticated film making by any means but does, as they say, what it says on the can. Little story, just an angry young man determined to do with his gun what he is going to do and even rape the co-star along the way. Helmut Berger is excellent in the lead and fully convinces as the near lunatic, Mad Dog or Killer of the titles. Marisa Mell is also effective and not quite as dumb as the females often seem to have to be in these Italian crime movies. The police are as dumb as usual, even if led by the charismatic, Richard Harrison. Tough. Mean and fast moving.
mf976
Poor me. I was so eager to see this movie. It's a "poliziottesco", it inspired Quentin Tarantino nonetheless, plus the big plus of having been shot in my hometown. And what a defeat, my friends. Yes, good camera angles. Yes, great score. Right. I won't repeat the profanities I said while watching, just believe me: the rest is plain, full, big, fat, outrageous rubbish all round. Ridiculous plot, no investigative work whatsoever, sloppy and very short car chases. The dialogues? Never mind, you'll barely hear them among the smacks and pows. They had only two sounds recorded: one smack and one pow. The same for all the movie along. Smack! Smack! Pow! Smack! Everybody goes berserk for no reason. "Good morning". Smack! Pow! You remain openmouthed. After the jailbreak Vanni Vitali visits his sister to take care of her. "You need money?" asks the supervillain, "Take these. They're fake. I've millions of them. All fake." Pause. "Listen, will you give me some real money, won't you?" In a scene the detective leaves the police HQ on a truck, no kidding, with a telescopic ladder mounted on, then he reaches the countryside, stops by a pole, climbs the ladder, connects a telephonic device to the wires and...makes a call to the HQ! Not enough? After the robbery the crooks run away taking some hostages with them. A dozen. The crooks leading in the car, the hostages following in a minivan. Driven by a hostage. OK, sorry, gotta stop now, I'm laughing by myself. Choking actually. I want to just say...laughing again. I'm sorry. I rest my case. Wow...
HumanoidOfFlesh
Helmut Berger leads a group of prison escapees on a rampage targeting cop Richard Harrison,who testified against him in court.After Berger rapes beautiful Marisa Mell("Danger:Diabolik"),then forces her to join the gang,Harrison hatches his own plan to stop dangerous Berger.The film is loaded with sleaze and violence,but it's not as nasty as it's reputed to be."Mad Dog" is well-acted,well-directed and has a fast pace from beginning to end.So if you're a fan of Italian crime flicks give this one a look-just don't expect something mind-shattering.