The Young, the Evil & the Savage (1968)

- Nude... si muore
If nothing else, it's interesting from a historical perspective, 8 May 2006

Mario Bava is generally credited with creating the Giallo with his 1963 movies The Girl Who Knew Too Much and Blood and Black Lace. While a few more examples were made in the 1960s, the Giallo really took-off after Dario Argento released The Bird with the Crystal Plumage in 1970. I mention these two dates because I think they're important when discussing 1968's The Young, the Evil & the Savage because they point how early in the Giallo cycle it falls. Yet, strangely enough, the movie feels rater tired. It's difficult for me to explain why, but I'll give it a try.

Part of the problem is that even though The Young, the Evil & the Savage is an early Giallo, it's actually rather unoriginal. There's very little new ground broken in the movie. It plays like a cross between the previously mentioned Blood and Black Lace and the 1962 film Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory. Replace the werewolf with a mad killer and copy some of Bava's murder scenes and you've got The Young, the Evil & the Savage.

Another factor that makes The Young, the Evil & the Savage feel tired is its rather staid, conservative look especially when compared with other films of the same period. There's really no comparison between this film and Lucio Fulci's One on Top of the Other made just a year later. Fulci's film has that hip, colorful, groovy feel to it that is definitely a product of the swinging 60s. To this day, it maintains its fresh and interesting look. The Young, the Evil & the Savage, on the other hand, has a feel and look to it of something much older. Visually, it has more in common with the previously mentioned 1962 film Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory than it does something from 1968.

There are, however, a couple of reasons to see this movie. First, if you're a Giallo fan, the novelty of seeing such an early example should not be bypassed. From a historical perspective, it's an interesting film. Second, the final twist where the killer is revealed is quite well done and is easily the highlight of the movie. I'm seen a number of Gialli with underwhelming finales, so it was nice to see one where the ending was not only a winner, but the best thing about the movie.

* Edit: I just watched Dark Sky's new transfer of The Young, the Evil, and the Savage (or Naked You Die). Gotta say it was like watching a different movie. There's nothing like have a nice looking transfer with good sound and cuts restored to make you change your mind about a movie. It's still not the best Giallo I've ever seen, but my opinion has improved. Dark Sky's transfer gave the movie some of that funkiness I thought it so desperately needed. Things like the mod/matching clothes to the groovy title song really stood out. I'm definitely glad I gave it another chance.

6/10