Days before a general election a young girl is raped and murdered. Bizanti (Gian Maria Volonté, The Working Class Goes to Heaven), the editor of a right-wing newspaper uses the story to help the conservative candidate his paper supports. The tumultuous time of Italy’s ‘Years of Lead’ are captured in Marco Bellocchio’s powerful political drama which directly addressed topics of its day and even prefigured the creation of the right-wing paper Il giornale, which came into being two years after this film. In an age of media manipulation Slap the Monster on Page One has never been more relevant and stands proudly alongside such Italian activist classics as We Still Kill the Old Way and The Mattei Affair.

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Video Quality

Slap the Monster on Page One debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 4K restoration of the film from the original negative by Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with Surf Film and Kavac Film, under the supervision of director Marco Bellocchio. The greatest care has been taken with this restoration that maintains the natural grain structure of the ‘70s cinematography. Nothing ever feels loose or clumpy to hamper the visual potential. This taps into a level of incredible detail in the costumes, backgrounds, and natural environments that are a visual delight.

A few odd specks remain in the new transfer, but this source has been given a visual makeover that allows it to look like the best version of itself. A few instances of softness date back to the source photography, but they are fleeting at worst. The colors are ideally saturated with hues exploring the screen. The contrast is strong in all environments with firm highlights and no obvious instances of black crush. The shadowy enclaves present some lovely depth to the image. Radiance Films has delivered a terrific visual presentation that keeps up the quality that sets them apart.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Italian which tackles the material with gusto. There is not much age-related wear and tear that distracts from the experience. The score from Nicola Piovani comes through with preferable fidelity. Dialogue holds up with distinct clarity and without any indications of distortion. Conversations never get drowned out by the sound effects or the score. The measured approach to the narrative allows for the impactful deployment of environmental sounds and other textural elements. Radiance Films has pulled out all the stops. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Slap the Monster on Page One includes a booklet featuring new writing by Wesley Sharer. This gives great insight into the “Years of Lead”, the work of Marco Bellocchio, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Marco Bellocchio: A 20-minute archival interview with the director who speaks about Slap the Monster on Page One, where he was at in his career, flourishes he specifically added to the film, the nuances of the characters, and more.

Mario Sesti: A new 25-minute interview with critic and author Mario Sesti in which he discusses where this film falls in the director’s output, the Italian cinematic landscape of the time, the reception of the film, the standout moments in the film, the director’s life in his later years and more.

Alex Cox: A new ten-minute interview with filmmaker Alex Cox who speaks about Slap the Monster on Page One while breaking down key scenes in the film.

Final Thoughts

Slap the Monster on Page One is an invigorating gem from Marco Bellocchio, who explores the murky boundary between journalism and politics and how those in power attempt to manipulate the truth. The film moves along at a breathless pace with plenty of surprising developments to complement the insightful screenplay. The ensemble does a fine job in their roles with numerous impassioned confrontations. If you love a good political or journalistic thriller, this one will treat you very well. This is a high point in the crowded Italian crime drama subgenre. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some special supplemental features. Don’t sleep on this one. Recommended

Slap the Monster on Page One will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on November 19, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.