Absurd opens with lead character, Nikos Tanoupoulos, being pursued by a priest. Nikos tries to climb over a wrought iron fence but accidentally impales himself on the spikes on top of the fence and is rushed to hospital. As he seems to get over his surgery and injuries in record time, it is established that, in fact, he has escaped a medical laboratory and is a kind of Frankenstein figure who can heal quicker than other mortals from injuries and is almost immortal. He is also, unfortunately, psychopathic, and after he escapes from the hospital, he goes on a murderous rampage.

This film was directed by Joe D’Amato and stars George Eastman as Nikos. They had previously worked on Anthropophagus, The Beast. Absurd would be banned outright when it was classified for a home video release after it had been released uncut by Medusa Home Video in the early days of UK video releases being able to not have to get a classification from the BBFC. Indeed, Absurd would find itself on the DPP List of the 33 films considered the worst Video Nasties. We’d have to wait until 2017 until Absurd would be passed uncut in the UK.

So, after all of the controversy, is Absurd any good?

It’s a good but not great slice of Italian early 80’s gore. For me, it isn’t as good as Anthropophagus The Beast, but it is still a solid piece of blood-splattered entertainment. It was actually written by Eastman, and some critics have said that the influence of Halloween and other slashers is there for all to see. This is true, but Absurd is still enough of a unique film to not just feel like a rip-off of Carpenter’s masterpiece.

The major criticism of Absurd is that Eastman isn’t on the screen enough. He throws himself into his role with such gusto that when he isn’t present, the film flags a little.

Do you want to see a film in which a character who is in traction and strapped to a bed is made to free herself to get away from a killer who is trying to break down her bedroom door? Of course you do! And this happens in this film. Nikos clearly helped her with her rehabilitation as she seems to be able to move very well indeed when she is mobile again.

I also wonder if Halloween 2 had been released whilst they were making Absurd. The scene in which (spoiler alert!) Nikos is blinded but carries on his murderous rampage reminded me of the operating room scene at the end of H2.

Absurd isn’t the best early 80’s Italian gorefest that I’ve seen, but it’s far from the worst.

3 out of 5 stars