Massimo encounters a mafioso-type wanted by the police, who has some dealings in the drug trade, befriends Massimo, but that association signals the beginning of his downfall; first there’s a crisis regarding his girlfriend and his best friend Rudy (Settimio Segnatelli) when they attend a drug party with him; then he finds himself on the wrong side of the mobster.
While the story starts off much like a standard cop film, Hallucination Strip takes a major turn around the halfway point, when Massimo’s use of hallucinogenic drugs becomes the focal point of both the narrative and visual style. Shot by Gino Santini (who worked on numerous spaghetti westerns), the film has a flashy, colorful look. Santini does a great job of trying to convey what might be going on in Massimo’s mind during these ‘trips.’ The trippy score by Alberto Verrecchia fits the visuals well. The visual payoff comes during a twenty minte sequence at the end, when Massimo finds himself at a drug party. The camera work and the music combine well in an attempt to create an onscreen psychedelic experience.
The plot, such as it is, isn’t what makes Hallucination Strip interesting. It’s the vibe. The 1968 student protests are explicitly referenced in the film, as are the beginnings the beginnings of the pro-worker and communist movements in Italy. What hurts the notion of the characters as protesters is the insistence that they be so young. Massimo was supposed to be a part-time college student of seventeen; his friends were high school students; in reality, Bud Cort was 27 when the film was released. There’s a scene where he tells Cinzia about an experience with a hooker when he was 15. He talks about this experience like it happened closer to ten years earlier, not two. Confusing.
While the film’s political message gets lost in the visuals, the performances are surprisingly strong. Marcel Bozzuffi, recognizable from his appearance in William Friedkin’s The French Connection, does a commendable job as the lead cop, but it’s Bud Cort who really stands out. He convincing as both a drug user, and a young man increasingly concerned about his state of mind. He helps to make Massimo and his friend’s rebellion against the middle/upper class believable, in the midst of an otherwise exceedingly trippy film.
Hallucination Strip arrives on Blu-ray form Raro Video in a 1080p high definition transfer framed at 1.85.1 widescreen. Colors look very nice throughout. The image is pretty good, though there is some minor print damage in the form of small white specks here and there, as well as a small scratch in the right hand corner of one frame. There is some obvious haloing in spots, and detail is pretty soft. It also appears as though some heavy DNR has been applied. Black levels look very good and there aren’t any major compression issues to report.
Audio options are provided in both English and Italian language lossless tracks in LPCM Mono. While the range is limited by the older source material, both tracks are rather clean, clear and well balanced. The score stands out here too, showing impressive depth. There are no noticeable problems with hiss or distortion outside of a few minor spots that most won’t notice., Both tracks sound fine.
English Subtitles are included.
The following extras are included:
- Interview with Editor Giulio Berruti (HD, 19:21) Berruti discusses his working relationship with director Marcaccini, his techniques, what it was like working on the film, and more (In Italian with English subtitles).
- English Language Trailer (HD, 3:06)
- Booklet: Linear notes with essays on director Lucio Marcaccini and about the psychedelic era and the drugs that played such a big part in it.
