Overview: Valerio is a struggling reporter with a failed marriage and withdrawn son. He is angry at the world and strives for more. In the newspaper’s mail he receives the opportunity he’s been waiting for, a serial killer announces and later carries out a series of grisly murders.

Valerio remorselessly uses this opportunity to improve his position and standing but will he draw himself too close to the killer? From veteran director Luigi Zampa, The Monster is a satirical giallo with deeper commentary on the nature of the press in society. Written by Sergio Donati (Once Upon a Time in the West, Slap the Monster on Page One) and featuring a catchy Ennio Morricone score, it is presented on home video for the first time outside Italy.

Blu-ray Verdict: Valerio Barigozzi (Johnny Dorelli) is a low ranker journalist who starts to get a letter from a serial killer that reveals his next victim and after he creates photo reportages of the murders his career takes off.

I truth, I see a lot of parallelism with the 2014’s film “The Nightcrawler”, in which the character of Lou Bloom is very similar to Valerio Barigozzi, both they’ll do anything they can to achieve greatness, no matter the cost. I also see a little of metacinema at the start, like the opening scenes of the Scream Saga, and it was very satisfying.

A pretty decent piece of satirical gialli. One that doesn’t care about the bloody murder set pieces, we only just get to see the bodies afterwards; it is more focused on the social elements where some people look to profit of murders in this case media. The balance between humorous and cynical could have been little better, otherwise it’s effective - especially the ending reveal which is predictable, sure, but ultimately a very moving and sad conclusion.

In conclusion, The Monster aka The Fiend aka Il mostro feature Top rank technicians on form, though Morricone has done more distinctive work, in my humble opinion. Formidable central performance and direction which manages to mix bad taste comedy, murder mystery and comment on contemporary press ethics, parenting and publicity.

Bonus Materials:
2K restoration from the original negative by Radiance Films
Uncompressed mono PCM audio
Audio commentary by giallo experts Rachael Nisbet and Peter Jilmstad (2026)
Interviews with stars Sydne Rome, Renato Scarpa, Enzo Santaniello and makeup artist Pierantonio Mecacci (45 mins)
Interview with Italian cinema expert Richard Dyer (2026)
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Roberto Curti, author of Italian Giallo in Film and Television: A Critical History, and archival interviews with Luigi Zampa and Johnny Dorelli
Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Official Purchase Link

www.radiancefilms.co.uk