Black Belly of the Tarantula (La tarantola dal ventre nero)

Black Belly of the Tarantula, known in Italian as La tarantola dal ventre nero, is a 1971 Italian-French giallo, also described as a crime thriller with horror touches. It is known in France as La Tarentule au ventre noir and in Germany as Der schwarze Leib der Tarantel and in Spain as La tarántula del vientre negro. It runs about 99 minutes and takes its cue from Dario Argento's L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo, a hit of the genre in 1970.

Director Paolo Cavara made this feature after a run of documentary work. Giancarlo Giannini, Barbara Bouchet and Barbara Bach lead the cast, which also includes Stefania Sandrelli, Giancarlo Prete, Claudine Auger, Silvano Tranquilli, Rossella Falk, Annabella Incontrera, Eugene Walter, Ezio Marano, Guerrino Crivello, Nino Vingelli and Carla Mancini.

The narrative moves with the pace and suspense of the giallo, enriched by unexpected situations and surprising twists. Marcello Gatto's cinematography and Ennio Morricone's music are among the film's standout qualities.