Black Belly of the Tarantula

The Black Belly of the Tarantula
Directed by	Paolo Cavara
Produced by	Marcello Danon
Written by	Marcello Danon, Lucile Laks
Starring	Giancarlo Giannini, Claudine Auger, Barbara Bouchet, Rossella Falk
Music by	Ennio Morricone
Cinematography	Marcello Gatti
Editing by	Mario Morra
Release date(s)	June 7, 1972
Running time	98 min.
Country	Italy

The Black Belly of the Tarantula is a 1971 Italian film directed by Paolo Cavara. It is one of many Italian giallo films to be inspired by Dario Argento's successful debut thriller The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. The film was shot on location in Rome, Italy in 1970. Though fairly obscure for many years the film has recently made a comeback thanks to the rising fan base for the giallo genre. The film has gained much praise from the horror community, one writer at Horrorview.com cited it as the best giallo ever made. Blue Underground Entertainment released the film on DVD in 2006.

Plot

A mysterious killer is attacking women associated with a blackmail conspiracy. The deranged murderer seizes his victims by paralyzing them with a needle and then slicing open their bellies. It is up to reluctant Inspector Tellini to find out who the killer is, before he too becomes a target.

Cast

• Giancarlo Giannini as Inspector Tellini
• Claudine Auger as Laura
• Barbara Bouchet as Maria Zani
• Rossella Falk as Franca Valentino
• Silvano Tranquilli as Paolo Zani
• Annabella Incontrera as Mirta Ricci
• Ezio Marano as Masseur
• Barbara Bach as Jenny
• Stefania Sandrelli as Anna Tellini
• Giancarlo Prete as Mario
• Eugene Walter as Ginetto, the waiter
• Nino Vingelli as Inspector Di Giacomo

Alternate titles

• Den Mystiske dråparen - Finland
• Salaperäinen tappaja - Finland
• Med spindelns gift - Sweden
• Sta nyhia tis mavris arahnis - Greece
• Tarántula del vientre negro, La - Spain
• Tarentule au ventre noir - France