Lame and bloodless giallo from director/writer Antonio Margheriti a/k/a Anthony Dawson. Though based on a story by the great Mario Bava, the film plays out more like a Nancy Drew mystery than a proper giallo. It's competently filmed and directed, but lacks any of the sense of foreboding and danger present in other, better movies of the genre.
A bunch of girls at a boarding school are stalked by a mysterious killer. This actually makes it sound way better than it is. I've seen the uncut 98 minute version and there is no blood, nudity, sex or violence. What is giallo for??? The closest we come to a good murder is when the sweaty, perv of a handyman gets a sickle in the stomach. We don't get to see the actual kill, only the sickle protruding from his middle a bit later.
The movie teases us with shots of women in the bathtub and the shower, but conceals their nudity, which is quite the cheat as some of the women are quite lovely. Unfortunately, the characters they play are stupid and obnoxious. I was hoping the killer would get them all, but he only strangles two of them and tries to drown a third. The stranglings are especially laughable, he barely gets his hands around their necks when they fall down dead.
In typical giallo style, the ending makes little sense. Michael Rennie is on hand to little effect, he looks confused most of his screen time. The killer's explanation as to how he intends to fool the police and get away with his crimes is absurd beyond words. You'll be able to see the failed logic behind it even if this is your first murder mystery. Better to stick with Argento.
A bunch of girls at a boarding school are stalked by a mysterious killer. This actually makes it sound way better than it is. I've seen the uncut 98 minute version and there is no blood, nudity, sex or violence. What is giallo for??? The closest we come to a good murder is when the sweaty, perv of a handyman gets a sickle in the stomach. We don't get to see the actual kill, only the sickle protruding from his middle a bit later.
The movie teases us with shots of women in the bathtub and the shower, but conceals their nudity, which is quite the cheat as some of the women are quite lovely. Unfortunately, the characters they play are stupid and obnoxious. I was hoping the killer would get them all, but he only strangles two of them and tries to drown a third. The stranglings are especially laughable, he barely gets his hands around their necks when they fall down dead.
In typical giallo style, the ending makes little sense. Michael Rennie is on hand to little effect, he looks confused most of his screen time. The killer's explanation as to how he intends to fool the police and get away with his crimes is absurd beyond words. You'll be able to see the failed logic behind it even if this is your first murder mystery. Better to stick with Argento.