THRILLER : A CRUEL PICTURE

Alternate Title: THEY CALL HER ONE EYE!
Country: Sweden
Release Year: 1974
Genre: Thriller / Action / Drama
Language: Swedish
Running Time: UNCUT 107 minutes


[Cast]
Christina Lindberg .... Frigga/Madeleine/One Eye
Heinz Hopf .... Tony
Despina Tomazani .... Lip-stick lesbian
Per-Axel Arosenius .... Frigga's Father
Solveig Andersson .... Sally
Björn Kristiansson
Marie-Louise Mannervall .... Woman in village
Hildur Lindberg .... Mother's Friend
Stig Lokrantz
Olle Nordlander
Marshall McDough
Gunnar Palm
Pamela Pethö-Galantai .... Young Madeleine

[Writer / Director]
Bo Arne Vibenius

Christina Lindberg.

What a goddess! I've just discovered the beauty of 1970's trash-exploitation cinema. It's fuckin' awesome! For those of you who have'nt seen the cult-classic Swedish revenge flick [THRILLER: a very cruel picture] (retitled 'They Call Her One Eye' in the United States) go buy the DVD and make sure it's UNCUT, Director's CUT version, Re-Mastered, Special Edition. It's by far THE best revenge flick in existence!!!

Why do I say it's the best revenge film ever?
Why I'm glad you asked!

First of all, for those of you Asian Cinema Connousieurs out there like us here in HOUSE OF CINEMA. When we see a gun touting character sporting a trench coat for that sweet touch of ultra-coolness, we think that's John Woo all the way right??? WRONG, you're DEAD WRONG!!!

You see CHOW YUN FAT in the A BETTER TOMORROW TRILOGY was not the first one to ever sport a trench coat while blasting away at evil henchmen Nope....belive me...that's what I thought as well. The Dude responsible for setting this trend is Bo A Vibenius the director for 'THRILLER: a cruel picture' he came up with the very idea, just check out Christina's character in the poster above! Ain't she a bad-ass muthafucka!!!! you damn straight! That's not all...

We all know that the Keanu Reeves' character Neo in 'The Matrix' was sporting that ultra cool trench coat. Hmm....since the Wachowski Brothers watch alot of asian flicks I wonder where they got that idea??? Well none other than from John Woo's Hong Kong flicks of course!!! A Better Tomorrow was without a doubt the very best in Hong Kong gunplay action. Period. It just kinda makes me wonder WHEN John Woo saw THRILLER. I'm saying when because I'm 100% sure and without a doubt that's where he got the idea for the trench coat look, and the slow motion action as well. However I'm not here to discuss and talk about the John Woos, or the Wachowski Brothers. I'm here to talk about the Swedish Film "THRILLER: a cruel picture"

THRILLER was way ahead of its time. The storytelling, the cinematography, the wardrobe, and of course the gunplay action. Yup, this is the film that brought the super cool 'SLOW-MOTION-ACTION SEQUENCES. Yup you read right!!! It was'nt John Woo who came up with that idea, nope it was Bo A Vibenius as well. So prioir in seeing this film, I thought John Woo was the man who came up with Trench Coat look, and Slow Motion Action Sequences...but I was dead wrong indeed. And it doesn't stop there either......

Quentin Tarantino, a.k.a the master copycat of ripping off excellent ideas from other films took the idea from THRILLER, and applied it to Daryl Hannah's evil character in his KILL BILL duology!!!! Ain't that something??? Just to make one thing clear, I don't dislike Quentin on the contrary I like his movies. All of it, especially KILL BILL Volume 1. I called a truce after seeing how great KILL BILL Vol.1 was, even though I know he gathered a bunch of excellent ideas and crammed it all in KILL BILL, I still like the guy's work. Hey the guy can write excellent dialogue, sometimes I wonder if he ever worked as a writer for Seinfeld but anyways...back to THRILLER.

So if you're still wondering to yourself as to whether or not you should see this flick, do yourself a favor and go for it. Just keep in mind that this flick was made in 1973, so d0n't be expecting high octane action sequences. You should appreciate the flick for what it is, a very surreal yet haunting almost athmospheric in a sense that you feel that you're actually experiencing what she Christina Lindberg's character is experiencing. It is also a character study of sorts. The movie pretty much answers the question "How much can one person take before he/she blows up?" Well in THRILLER you see all the cruelty she takes from everyone, and all the cruelty she unleashes on everyone!!!

What do I think of THRILLER: a cruel picture?
It's an absolutel wonder, gorgeously shot revenge film that is not to be missed!
An exceptional rare piece of pulp filmaking at its finest.
THRILLER : A CRUEL PICTURE is truly ahead of its time!!!
I wonder if Bo Arne Vibenius knew he was making a masterpiece when he shot this film? If I can only travel back in time...Christina Lindberg will be mine!!!

Also if you like Christina Lindberg, check her out in the Japanese Pinky Violence cult-classic SEX & FURY (1973) she goes toe to toe with Reiko Ike, Japan's own sex goddess. Don't miss it!!!