DVD Released: 2006
Approximate Running Time: 95 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Letterboxed
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
DVD Release: CEC
Region Coding: Region 0 PAL (Italy)
Retail Price: $19.95

Three friends are afraid of failing an examine and one of them Max concocts a plan where they should break into the school over the weekend and replace their original tests with new ones before they are graded on Monday. Max and Nico are forced to flee the scene before the switch the tests because the schools caretaker spots them. The next morning the third friend Asthma doesn’t show up for school and they boys soon learn that he has never returned home since the last time they saw him. Max and Nico still determined return to the school the next evening to replace their tests. Once they are inside they quickly learn that there is an evil that has been lurking in the corridors underneath the school and that escaping it grasp is impossible.

Since the late 1980’s the Horror film has all but vanished off the face of the earth in the Italian film industry. Lorenzo Bianchini’s Lidris Cuadrade Di Tre, is reminiscent of the horror films made in Italy in the 1980’s. Visually the film uses color boldly like Dario Argento and builds atmosphere like past masters like Mario Bava. The body count is only limited too a handful of victims and the bloodshed is tame when compared to grand horror set pieces from Italy’s past. The film is really about mood and not gore for the sake of gore. The films Goblin like score is excellent as it hits all the right notes and sets the mood for the film from the opening frames.

If the film has any weaknesses it would be that its plot doesn’t follow a cohesive narrative and that until you have seen the whole film the layout of the plot may have some scratching their heads. There plenty of frightening moments in this film and the director did an good job making hard to tell what is real and what is imagined by the various characters. The films final reveal completely caught me off guard at first until it all finally sunk in and then the pieces of the puzzle where much easier to put together.

The DVD:

Lidris Cuadrade Di Tre (Square root of three) is presented in a letterboxed aspect ratio of about 1.85:1 which faithfully retains the films original aspect ratio. Colors look vivid with deep red and blues. The black levels are solid and details look sharp through out. Overall despite a non anamorphic transfer this film is in great shape.

This release comes with only one audio option the films original Italian language track which is presented for this release in a Dolby Digital stereo. The audio mix sounds full and makes good use of the films various ambient sounds. The dialog is clear and the music blends perfectly with the rest of the mix. English subtitles have been included that are easy to read and follow.

Extras for this release include trailers for Lidris Cuadrade Di Tre and Di Custodes Bestiae. Other extras include about fifteen minutes of outtakes from the film. Rounding out the extras is a short film also directed by Lorenzo Bianchini and it is titled “I Dincj De Lune (The Moon Has fangs)”. This short film is shot in a similar style that is employed for this feature film Lidris Cuadrade Di Tre.

Overall Lidris Cuadrade Di Tre, is solid horror film that gets its scares on a more psychological level then visceral.

For more information about Lidris Cuadrade Di Tre visit CEC here.