The Bronx Warriors Trilogy

Interest in the films of cult Italian film director Enzo G. Castellari has undergone a resurgence recently thanks largely to Quentin Tarantino adapting the title of Castellari's The Inglorious Bastards (1978) for his own take on the WWII men-on-a-mission movie. Like Tarantino, Castellari is a filmmaker who is not shy about making his influences known. Indeed, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Castellari is something of a sycophant, having carved himself a reputation as a plagiarist par excellence with a slew of low-budget copies in the early '80s. The three films in this box set - issued under the aptly named Shameless label - are part of that tradition. The superb Bronx Warriors (1982) has the honour of being one of the few copycat movies that could reasonably claim to be in the same league as the classic that served as its blueprint: Walter Hill's The Warriors (1979). Like that film, it is the story of a street gang - The Riders - who must make their way across… more »

Interest in the films of cult Italian film director Enzo G. Castellari has undergone a resurgence recently thanks largely to Quentin Tarantino adapting the title of Castellari's The Inglorious Bastards (1978) for his own take on the WWII men-on-a-mission movie. Like Tarantino, Castellari is a filmmaker who is not shy about making his influences known. Indeed, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Castellari is something of a sycophant, having carved himself a reputation as a plagiarist par excellence with a slew of low-budget copies in the early '80s. The three films in this box set - issued under the aptly named Shameless label - are part of that tradition. The superb Bronx Warriors (1982) has the honour of being one of the few copycat movies that could reasonably claim to be in the same league as the classic that served as its blueprint: Walter Hill's The Warriors (1979). Like that film, it is the story of a street gang - The Riders - who must make their way across the city, battling through the territory of numerous rival factions. The sequel, Escape From The Bronx (1983) takes its inspiration - as the title suggests - from John Carpenter's dystopian Escape From New York (1981), while The New Barbarians (1982) stands as one of the very best post-apocalypse movies to follow in the wake of Mad Max 2 (1981). Crammed with the sort of balletic slow-motion violence that lead to Castellari being dubbed "the poor man's Peckinpah", these 3 films represent some of the very best in Italian exploitation, featuring star turns by genre legends Fred Williamson, Vic Morrow and the sublime Henry Silva.

As far as extras are concerned, the highlight is undoubtedly the 25 minute interview with the charismatic Castellari, whose passion for movies is self-evident. The Shameless fact track that accompanies each of the films serves as an excellent crash course for those with an interest in Italian genre cinema. Topping the package off is a gallery of posters, lobby cards and press materials for The Bronx Warriors, and a host of trailers spread across the 3 discs that are often as amusing as the films themselves.

The embossed collector's tin looks great, and would take pride of place in the collection of any discerning schlockmeister. The individual titles themselves are packaged in the garish yellow (giallo) boxes that are a hallmark of the Shameless brand and all feature reversible sleeves, so you can take your pick of gloriously lurid '80s poster art! All in all, this box set is a must-have for Castellari fans and a worthy entry point for anyone looking to dip their toe in the shark-infested waters of Italian genre cinema.