Otto Lehman (Victor Buono) has just been released after spending three years in a mental institution. Now, there’s only one thing on his mind—restoring his reputation as the finest butcher in Vienna. His wife, Hanna Lehman, is ashamed of having a husband who has been institutionalized, and her embarrassment grows when Otto refuses to come home with her. Otto, however, couldn’t care less about her. He is far more interested in preparing his meat and, in the evenings, watching the beautiful neighbor undress in front of her window.
One day, Hanna has had enough. She unleashes her frustration on Otto, humiliating him and forcing him to return home. But Otto snaps, loses his temper, and strangles her. Now, he has a problem—disposing of the body. His solution? Turning her into sausages. The finest sausages in Vienna!
This is a dark comedy brought to life by two of Italy’s most notorious madmen, Dick Randall and Harry Novak. A prime example of eurosleaze at its best!
The film contains little to no gore or blood, as the murders are carried out by strangulation, and the butchery itself is not shown in graphic detail. There is some nudity scattered throughout, but it’s more for comedic effect than anything sexual. Horror elements are entirely absent, making this a pure comedy—though an incredibly dark one. And it works. The film is consistently entertaining, largely thanks to Victor Buono’s performance as Otto, which steers the film in the right direction. Buono, best known for supporting roles in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Beneath the Planet of the Apes, truly gets to showcase his talent here. His performance is further enhanced by a fitting soundtrack composed by Alessandro Alessandroni.
That said, this is by no means a good film in a traditional sense. The sets are cheap, the effects are unimpressive, and the entire film is dubbed—regardless of language. Since it was made for an international market, the cast includes actors from different countries, making dubbing inevitable. So, this is not a film for mainstream audiences. But who cares? If you can look past the low budget and the signs of age, you’ll find a charming little cult gem.
Buono appetito!
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