Pelts

This entry in the Showtime cable anthology series Masters of Horror hails from Italian director Dario Argento, whose films from the 1970s are considered by many to be classics of the giallo genre. But even his most ardent admirers are unlikely to find Pelts satisfying (for all of the absurdities and bloodletting, the earlier films at least delivered some suspense and real shivers). The plot here—revolving around a slimy furrier (Meat Loaf) who fashions a coat from the pelts of some magical raccoons, hoping to win the favor of an exotic dancer—is so ridiculous that one can't suspend disbelief (even the audio commentary by writer Matt Venne is of no help). Which leaves a succession of admittedly remarkable gross-out effects, including one man bashing in another's head with a baseball bat (and then splitting his own noggin in a bear trap), another guy literally gutting himself, a woman stitching her eyes and lips closed, another woman having her hand cut off, and—to top it all off—a man actually skinning himself alive. DVD extras include the aforementioned audio commentary, both “making-of” and behind-the-scenes featurettes emphasizing the grisly elements, a stills gallery, storyboards, and a text bio of Argento. While this may appeal to aficionados of splatter flicks, the absence of compelling (or comprehensible) narrative makes this a very optional purchase. (F. Swietek)