Medium, The (1980) (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Aug 15, 2025
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
-
Director
Silvio AmadioRelease Date(s)
1980 (August 12, 2025)Studio(s)
Ars Nova Cooperativa (Raro Video/Kino Lorber)- Film/Program Grade: C
- Video Grade: B+
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: B-
Review
Films about supernatural events typically lean heavily into horror, with graphic images, Satanic manifestations, blood, and considerable gore. In contrast, the 1980 Italian film The Medium (Il Medium) takes a restrained look at unexplainable events at an Italian villa and their effects on its occupants.
American composer Paul (Guido Mannari) and his young son, Alan (Stefano Mastrogirolamo), move to a large villa outside Rome several years after the death of Paul’s wife. Needing a live-in nanny to tutor Alan and keep him company, Paul hires attractive young Laura (Sherry Buchanan). Paul and Alan receive housewarming gifts and soon they and Laura begin to experience odd occurrences around the house—disquieting, disembodied voices, the ghostly appearance of a dark-haired young woman, and a shocking attack by a ferocious dog. As these unsettling episodes escalate, Paul enlists the help of spiritual medium Professor Power (Philippe Leroy), who has an excellent reputation as an expert on the supernatural.
Prof. Power conducts a seance and concludes that the disturbed spirit of an agitated young woman lives in the house. The spirit is that of the dark-haired Eleanora, Paul’s former lover whom he left behind in Rome when he took a job in New York. Eleanora intended to kill Paul and herself by driving over a cliff, but Paul jumped from the car and survived. Employing occult rituals, Prof. Power tries to banish the malignant spirit and bring peace to the innocent family, but there’s always the potential for danger when entering a realm beyond the known.
With a plot centered on haunted-house elements, it’s surprising how matter-of-factly the narrative unfolds. There are certainly creepy and suspenseful moments, but the film never veers into exploitation. This may be the film’s major failing; it’s too reserved and laid back for a story that lends itself to at least some excess. Instead, director Silvio Amadio keeps it grounded in the here and now. While the mood resembles that of The Innocents, Amadio doesn’t achieve the rich atmosphere of that picture.
I was pleased to see that no one reacts to the jarring occurrences with dopey, unrealistic actions manufactured to move the plot forward. The characters attempt to find logical reasons rather than jump to the conclusion that vengeful ghosts live among them.
The three main actors sell their roles effectively, especially young Mastrogirolamo, who has to convey Alan’s strong emotions as well as come across as a typical American-raised kid in love with baseball. Much of the focus is on Alan, and he dominates a major climactic scene toward the end of the film. Mannari, with his movie star looks, is sympathetic as Paul, preoccupied with composing his electronic music at his home studio but still a loving father to his son. As the soft-spoken tutor Laura, Buchanan conveys genuine affection for young Alan and fear for his safety.
Essentially a mystery with Gothic overtones, The Medium falls short of captivating the viewer. Its deliberately staid nature might have worked in its favor if dull, talky portions had been reduced or cut and suspense had been built consistently. Instead, the strange occurrences are interrupted by ponderous conjectures as to their cause when the viewer is already well ahead of them.
Director Amadio is a true believer in the supernatural and the occult and delivers the message that the subject matter is worthy of serious exploration. Because he uses no special effects or graphic images, the picture is bland and devoid of tension. He avoids gratuitous violence, nudity and sex so as not to distract the viewer from his intent but in the process, he has sacrificed considerable entertainment value.
The Medium was shot by director of photography Maurizio Salvatori on Telecolor 35mm film with spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. On the Blu-ray from Raro Video and Kino Lorber, clarity is very good, though there appears to be a yellow haze in some sequences. The color palette is fairly bright in the beginning as Alan, in his white baseball uniform, yellow socks and red cap bats balls in the courtyard. Trees and shrubbery are vibrant green, and Paul’s and Laura’s clothes tend toward light-hued fabrics. Later, during the seance, deep shadows add to mood. In a critical scene, perspiration on Alan’s face reflects his terror. The mysterious lady with long black hair is seen intermittently, always disappearing quickly, making the characters wonder whether she’s real or a hallucination.
The soundtrack is Italian 2.0 mono DTS-HD Master Audio. Optional English subtitles are available. Strange noises, loud barking of a ferocious dog, ghostly voices, and squeaky floorboards provide atmospheric touches. Dialogue is clear and distinct, and on-screen English subtitles translating the Italian make it easy to follow the plot. The score by Roberto Pregadio is too upbeat for the subject matter and often is at odds with a build-up of tension. It seems better suited to a comedy caper film.
The only bonus material on the Blu-ray release from Raro Video and Kino Lorber is the following:
- Audio Commentary by Adrian Smith and Rod Barnett
Commentary – Adrian Smith and Rod Barnett, film historians and hosts of Wild, Wild Podcast, are knowledgeable concerning Italian cult movies. They note that The Medium lies between art-house cinema and exploitation. Though it was shot on a limited budget, it has impressive production value. The relatively obscure film originally “fell through the cracks.” After a limited original release, it was shown on Italian television in 1985 and then disappeared. The film “seems to have sunk like a stone.” It was shot in a single location, believed to be the director’s villa outside Rome. It was shot entirely in Italian, with no thought of an international audience. Because of its small budget, the film had to be shot quickly. Many Italian films of the period were imported to the United States because of exploitative content, among them Inferno, Macabre, and Cannibal Holocaust, but The Medium was regarded as too lacking in commercial appeal for a theatrical run in the States. Director Silvio Amadio was interested in the spiritual world of psychic phenomena. Prof. Power is based on an actual “seance purveyor.” The Medium was Amadio’s serious attempt to present the supernatural to a broad audience. Brief career overviews of the actors and director Amadio are provided. Both commentators believe the film would have been more successful if it had leaned more into horror. As released, it lacked commercial elements.
The Medium, though well acted and directed, never fully engages the viewer. What promises to be a gripping haunted house tale turns out to be a fairly tepid excursion into the supernatural without any cinematic devices to enhance the narrative. The film sets up expectations based on its subject matter but always falls short in delivering. Though it may be a sincere effort to treat its subject matter with gravitas, it never rises above being moderately interesting.
- Dennis Seuling