Simply put, Danger: Diabolik is a treat. Think of him as an antihero master-thief cousin of James Bond or a precursor to Lupin III and you’re on the right track. Based on the Italian comic series Diabolik, the movie is perhaps the closest any movie to date has ever come to staying faithful to the comic book medium. Shots are often broken up into ‘panels’ via object in the foreground and everything is appropriately over-the-top without being overdone to the point of cheesiness.

The movie itself centers around Diabolik and his love Eva, partners in crime hellbent on getting what they want, and hopefully embarassing any law enforcement that gets in their way. Diabolik spends the duration of the film stuck between the police (who will stop at nothing to apprehend Diabolik) and a crime lord who cuts a deal with the police that will clear his name if he delivers Diabolik. Mario Bava did a wonderful job of directing, and the cast definitely delivers. John Philip Law IS Diabolik, and Marissa Mel is hotter than any Bond girl I’ve ever seen (her character in Diabolik was recently featured on The Coffin Lids‘ recent “‘Round Midnight” album). Throughout the movie, the situations Diabolik finds himself in become harder and harder to get out of, but just like Bond, you know he’ll prevail; it’s only a matter of how.

The DVD extras are actually somewhat entertaining for a 30+ year old movie based on a comic. The Beastie Boys “Body Movin’” video appears here, as it makes use of footage from the film, as well as giving the Beastie Boys ample opportunity to recreate some of the more action-packed scenes. Also included are two original trailers and a fairly-interesting ‘from comic to film’ short documentary.

Highly Recommended.