There's a couple different versions of this film out there, two of which are reviewed here. I'm going from Media Blaster's 2003 2-DVD release of the film, which includes a hybrid Widescreen version of the US release (technically known as Schizoid), in english, on Disc 1. Disc 2 has an Anamorphic Italian version, with minimal additional footage (like 90 seconds worth). Why do I bother to watch both? Drunken Obligation is a bitch, and I had to see if the US version was any better after having watched Disc 2 first. A real trade-off, as the US version is widescreen with some nice color to it and is in English, the Foreign version has quite possibly the best sequence of laughable terror ever captured on film (see "Great Scene" below). Regardless, the Dirty Hippies are equally as dirty in both versions despite the technological improvements made in editing and color correction techniques.
What starts off as an LSD-inspired sexploitation kind of film takes a quick 180, but not before a scene with the two female leads getting it on to what seemed to be a bad muzak version of a Carpenter's tune. The two chicks are kinda hot, though, so it pretty much balances out. After that it falls into the basic detective drama, with occasional doses of acid and lesbianism to pull the viewer back in. A cigarette-bumming detective and Red Herrings Aplenty tie the whole thing together, to mixed results. Swinging London and questionable anti-drug messages mixed throughout, and loads of atmosphere.
While I'd love to say this is quite possibly the craziest beaver picture ever made since LarryMary the Schizophrenic Beaver: A Documentary, its whole premise collapses quicker than a..... bad dam pun. Some pretty creative use of crash zooms throughout, and decent soundtrack provided by Ennio Morricone. While having made plenty of films prior, this is Fulci's first foray into the gore-filled Giallo genre, and the world is all the better for it.
