An action drama about an assassin who is ordered to kill an old friend and the repercussions when he refuses. At the same time, although it has nothing to do with the plot, there seems to be a relentless undercurrent of sadism and masochism with a homosexual aura.
Acting
Helmut Berger broods magnificently; everyone else chews scenery.
Direction
Maesso's weird tonal whiplash between thriller and psychosexual fever dream.
Director
José Gutiérrez Maesso
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This film arrived at the tail end of the Eurospy craze, when producers slashed budgets and cranked up exploitation elements to compete with television. The 'psychosexual' angle was marketable controversy.
Helmut Berger was fresh off Visconti's 'Ludwig' and reportedly took this role purely for the paycheck—his visible disdain for the material accidentally perfects Clyde's weary assassin energy.