Director: Mehmet Aslan/Yavuz Yalinkiliç
Review by: Nathan D. Pazsint


Released By: Onar Films
Year of Release: 1973/1970
Running Time: 59 minutes/73 minutes
Rating: Unrated
Color Format: Color/b&w
Audio/Subtitles: Turkish with optional English subtitles
Region Code: 0, PAL
Aspect Ratio: Fullframe
Special Features: Limited to 1.200 numbered Copies, Galleries, Trailers, 3 Interviews with actor AYTEKIN AKKAYA , METIN DEMIRHAN (horror director and author of the cult book TURKISH FANTASTIC CINEMA) and GIOVANNI SCOGNAMILLO, actor and co-author of above book.
Trailer Online: Yes

(Updated information following the review)

I think it may be possible that both these films were shot in "Super-groovy-amation" but I am not entirely sure. Could have just been Techniscope I suppose. Turkish Giallo back to back with pitch black gothic horror via Istanbul? You betcha, the invaluable Greek cinema pioneer Bill Onar has gone to the movie mattresses yet again to unearth two joyful gems from beyond the genre grave. If his latest notes speak true the film community at large may have to award him with some sort of cinema Medal of Valor for his bravery in the face of disappearing translators, broke down courier vehicles, malfunctioning beta players, greedy producers (and apparently a number of others), and a whole slew of other suicide inducing circumstances. But alas, he has survived! The result is a pairing of formidably fun features packed to the gills with enough scares, scantily clad Turkish girls and totally unauthorized soundtrack "borrowing" to make it all worth while.

THIRSTY FOR LOVE (SEX AND A MURDER), a nasty giallo outing ripe with leather, lust and things that go "Help, I’m choking!" in the night is an enjoyable peak through the cinemascope at a vintage Turkish take on a solidly Italian tradition. Framed by seemingly never ending wah-wah slaps and solos (as all good 70's excursions should) the film has more than it's share of stylish and striking interludes, and of course, of course (!) a requisitely sly final reel. If that does not prove enough to have you scrambling to tune up your all-region player this little number was directed by none other than Mehmet Aslan, a Turkish treasure and the fine filmmaker behind a number of the classic TARKAN film adaptations including the increasing beloved TARKAN AND VERSUS THE VIKINGS (a film I believe should be shown to all children illustrating the dangers of oversized octopus). Repaired to an honorable degree, the color is strong and the film damage acceptable for the rarity. As with all of the most desirable of lost films, it is certainly far and above the despair of a bootlegger's cut and let's face it, you can only put so much shine on a scratched cell.

As much as I hate to have a favorite, THE DEAD DON'T TALK is by far the treat of the pair. Never before released on VHS, DVD, VCD, or even TV for Pete's sake, this is the stuff that the true FANADDICT (wink, wink) daydreams about! A grim, ghoulish stroll through candle lit castle corridors and dark corners, this fantastic feature stars none other than 3 DEV ADAM and DUNYAYI KURTARAN ADAM (TURKISH STAR WARS) leading man Aytekin Akkaya! 73 minutes of fantastic Turkish gothic wonderment await you including all of the following! Inexplicably never ending cackling! The ROSEMARY’S BABY theme! But wait, there's also the slightly misguided use of the theme from 2001 as a mood track! Oh yeah! It's not Oscar worthy kids, but boy is it a good time! Borrowing from any number of dank castle classics, including a favorite of mine THE DEVIL WALKS AT MIDNIGHT, this is a prime example of why Turkish cinema has a style, cool, and sensibility all it's own.

To put forth the time, effort, and true love of the subject required to rescue lost classics such as these has a merit all it's own and we are lucky to have Onar around willing to do it. Since its inception, Onar Films has become an invaluable resource in preserving and restoring a number of films both infamous and unknown that the cinema community is better for having access to. They are rough, rebellious and full of imagination and this double bill is no exception. It is rare thing to experience something that even the underground can not surface but Onar Films has managed to provide it, Get your credit card out, point your browser to the Onar homepage, and gather up a new gem for your collection. Your inner film elitist will thank you for it.

(Our original review was based on an advanced incomplete screener of this release. The final product boasts some great special features, primarily a series of three interviews full of interesting information. Authors and authorities on Turkish cinema, Metin Demirhan and Giovanni Scognamillo discuss the country's horror and fantastic film history. While bits of info do overlap between both interviews, these do provide a solid general overview of the region's fantastic cinema output. Also featured is a 45 minute conversation with the star of DEAD MEN DON'T TALK, Aytekin Akkay as he covers his impressive body of work. I can assure you that Onar went through hell and back to gather the materials and assemble this wild release. With more exciting and weird titles to come, it is imperative that every weird world cinema fan support these releases!)