A common trope in Italian horror seems to be the Alsatian or German Shepherd which cannot be trusted and has a negative role in the narrative (e.g. Suspiria, The Cat with the Eyes of Jade, The Beyond).
What other films can you think of that refute this? And which confirm it?
8 comments:
There is a very strong scene in PATRICK VIVE ANCORA where a bunch of German shepherds kill a woman. In THE OTHER HELL, the caretaker is attacked by his own shepherds. I'm pretty sure all of these dogs were trained by the same guy, who had a contract with De Paolis studios.
Good examples. They're also heard in the sound mix of The Cat with the Eyes of Jade, and described as a cruel breed.
Didn't know about the De Paolis guy - cheers.
Ricardo Freda's CACCIA ALL'UOMO goes the other way with the German shepherd playing a positive role throughout alongside his master Umberto Orsini.
Gotcha! That was my answer for your GIALLO joke :)
Neither an Italian production nor a giallo, but the inimitable Claudio Fragasso is italian and he directed the horror film Monster Dog - which supports your suggestion.
But "Monster dog" was no German shepherd... it was no other than Alice Cooper as a sort of werewolf!
Sergio Martino's All the Colors of the Dark and Argento's Tenebre both also feature dog attack scenes and I'm pretty sure they're German Shepherds.
All the Colors of the Dark did have German Shepherds menacing Edwige Fenech. Tenebre was all about that crazy fence-jumping Doberman.
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