The Taste of Violence (1961) | Radiance Films Blu-ray Review spine 143

In this video, I review The Taste of Violence, released by Radiance Films as Spine #143 and included in the Wicked Games box set. A strange, brutal, and genre-defying film, this 1961 Franco-Italian production sits somewhere between a revenge thriller, a psychological drama, and a so-called “pseudo-western.”

Directed by and starring Robert Hossein, The Taste of Violence is a bleak, confrontational work that strips revenge cinema down to its most nihilistic impulses. Radiance Films’ presentation finally gives this rarely discussed cult title the visibility and respect it deserves, both as a standalone release and as part of one of the label’s most thematically rich box sets to date.

📀 About the Film

Set in a stark, isolated landscape, The Taste of Violence follows a man consumed by vengeance after a violent crime leaves lasting psychological scars. What begins as a familiar revenge setup quickly mutates into something far more unsettling, with Hossein focusing less on catharsis and more on moral rot, obsession, and emotional collapse.

Often labelled a “pseudo-western,” the film borrows iconography from American genre cinema while rejecting its sense of justice or heroism. The result is a cold, fatalistic experience that feels closer to European noir and existential drama than traditional western storytelling.

💿 The Radiance Films Release (Spine #143)

Radiance Films continue their excellent curatorial work with this release, offering:

A strong HD transfer that highlights the film’s stark compositions

Thoughtful contextual extras and critical analysis

Inclusion within the Wicked Games box set, which frames the film alongside other morally complex, transgressive genre works

As with Radiance’s best releases, this isn’t just about preservation — it’s about re-evaluation.

👀 This Release Is Perfect For:

🔹 Fans of bleak revenge cinema
🔹 Collectors of Radiance Films releases
🔹 Viewers interested in genre hybrids and “anti-westerns”
🔹 European cult and arthouse cinema enthusiasts
🔹 Physical media collectors who value curation and context

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“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.”