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There are a number of reasons why the gialli started to dwindle during the late 1970s. Television and the home video craze largely contributed to the marginalization of Italy's film market, isolating art house and genre films to brief theatrical runs (if that), and then a jump to the boob tube. As Italy's once vibrant film scene faded into the 1980s, filmmakers were left to compete for attention — especially once the era of American slashers started to take root with John Carpenter's Halloween. Graphic sex and violence was relatively cheap and easy to produce, but the gialli had to up the ante. Enzo Milioni's 1978 film The Sister of Ursula goes for broke — and it's amusing in its absurdity, albeit lacking in most areas. There's full-frontal nudity within the first three minutes of the movie. The sex is plentiful and ultra sleazy — similar to the notorious Giallo a Venezia.

For this, a very special Halloween edition of Video Home Invasion, we're going to take a look at Severin Films lovely collection of rare and unsettling cult horror films.  I love horror movies as much as the next guy, but many of these titles had me scratching my head.  The Sinful Dwarf, while not strictly horror, is certainly horrifying.  Crucible of Terror is a blip in horror history, but a landmark in the career of Mike Raven.  Then there are the lesser known works of Lucio Fulci, a personal favorite.  Many films that deserve to be viewed at least once, given perhaps more recognition and attention than they sometimes deserve by a company dedicated to bringing evil into your home.

Lucio Fulci is a master of horror who is, by far, best known for his sizable and reputable collection of zombie films.  However, he did make other films as well,...