Hat tip to Giallo Trailers for turning me on to this title. It's not listed in any of the usual "must see" giallo reviews, so I would have missed out otherwise. I searched for this title for some time and only recently found, after having forgotten about it for a time, that it was now available on Italian DVD with no subtitles. Even then, I couldn't find it at my usual sources.
However, some kind soul uploaded the entire movie and I watched it last night. While not a Giallo masterwork, it is a very good little film. Creepy atmosphere, little blood, great setting. If you don't speak a lick of Italian, I still think you can follow the story pretty well.
Circa 1945, in a small Italian village, a mom and daughter run an old rundown boarding house, with peeling plaster and bricked windows a plenty, somewhat isolated from the town. I was immediately struck by the Agatha Christie-feel of the plot and scenes similar to those being churned out in the 70's. The daughter, Rosa, is amazingly beautiful and innocent, handling the role very well in spite of some considerable nudity. Seriously, the movie is rife with cunnilingus, which is unusual to say the least. There is also a rape scene, and you see more male buttocks that you might like. The rogue's gallery of characters include a drunk man-servant, a balding, lonely piano player, a Burt Reynolds / Antonio Banderas type and his older wife, a horny fat guy and his girlfriends. You have to be prepared for nothing to happen for the first hour. This isn't to say you'll be bored. Art house cinema fans will dig it, but it doesn't beat you over the head with its intentions.
Also, there is a man hiding away in the mother's room. She brings him food every night after everyone is supposed to be asleep. I do feel a little guilty about writing a review for a movie whose dialogue I couldn't truly follow, so if my guesses at character motivation are a little off, forgive me. I think the man is the mother's lover whom she's taken in while her husband is fighting in the war.
The mom dies in an "accident" which leaves the comely Rosa to run the house. This proves to be rather difficult since now that her mother is dead, every man in the house openly lusts after her. And that's not all that's afoot. There's a shadowy killer stalking the corridors and dripping staircases. However, if you are looking for that to be the central theme, you might be disappointed. It takes a backseat to the setting and character development.
Enter a few gangsters who stir things up. A wandering Rosa starts hearing and seeing things she shouldn't, which helps the story along. I made note of several instances where I was reminded of Suspiria, mainly with color use and voyeuristic POV shots, plus a few eyeball close ups. The score occasionally picks up and dazzles.
My suggestion is that you only see this if you are into Italian art house cult cinema or giallo films. If you are looking for a straight up stalking razor killer with high body counts, look elsewhere. Oh, there are lots of deaths, but not in the giallo style, shall we say.
However, some kind soul uploaded the entire movie and I watched it last night. While not a Giallo masterwork, it is a very good little film. Creepy atmosphere, little blood, great setting. If you don't speak a lick of Italian, I still think you can follow the story pretty well.
Circa 1945, in a small Italian village, a mom and daughter run an old rundown boarding house, with peeling plaster and bricked windows a plenty, somewhat isolated from the town. I was immediately struck by the Agatha Christie-feel of the plot and scenes similar to those being churned out in the 70's. The daughter, Rosa, is amazingly beautiful and innocent, handling the role very well in spite of some considerable nudity. Seriously, the movie is rife with cunnilingus, which is unusual to say the least. There is also a rape scene, and you see more male buttocks that you might like. The rogue's gallery of characters include a drunk man-servant, a balding, lonely piano player, a Burt Reynolds / Antonio Banderas type and his older wife, a horny fat guy and his girlfriends. You have to be prepared for nothing to happen for the first hour. This isn't to say you'll be bored. Art house cinema fans will dig it, but it doesn't beat you over the head with its intentions.
Also, there is a man hiding away in the mother's room. She brings him food every night after everyone is supposed to be asleep. I do feel a little guilty about writing a review for a movie whose dialogue I couldn't truly follow, so if my guesses at character motivation are a little off, forgive me. I think the man is the mother's lover whom she's taken in while her husband is fighting in the war.
The mom dies in an "accident" which leaves the comely Rosa to run the house. This proves to be rather difficult since now that her mother is dead, every man in the house openly lusts after her. And that's not all that's afoot. There's a shadowy killer stalking the corridors and dripping staircases. However, if you are looking for that to be the central theme, you might be disappointed. It takes a backseat to the setting and character development.
Enter a few gangsters who stir things up. A wandering Rosa starts hearing and seeing things she shouldn't, which helps the story along. I made note of several instances where I was reminded of Suspiria, mainly with color use and voyeuristic POV shots, plus a few eyeball close ups. The score occasionally picks up and dazzles.
My suggestion is that you only see this if you are into Italian art house cult cinema or giallo films. If you are looking for a straight up stalking razor killer with high body counts, look elsewhere. Oh, there are lots of deaths, but not in the giallo style, shall we say.