IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.3K
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Bizarre events keep occurring in an old mansion in Venezia, and it's soon obvious that something mysterious is up in the attic.Bizarre events keep occurring in an old mansion in Venezia, and it's soon obvious that something mysterious is up in the attic.Bizarre events keep occurring in an old mansion in Venezia, and it's soon obvious that something mysterious is up in the attic.
Angelo Boscariol
- Uomo al casinò
- (uncredited)
Aristide Caporale
- Uomo al casino
- (uncredited)
Lella Cattaneo
- Donna al casino
- (uncredited)
Iolanda Fortini
- Donna al casino
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe story of the movie is adapted from the novel Un'anima persa (1966), written by the Italian novelist and journalist Giovanni Arpino (1927-1987).
- ConnectionsReferenced in Esterno notte: Aldo Moro (2022)
Featured review
Scent of a Giallo
This Italian-French co-production could easily be thrown into the Italian giallo genre of the time, but it is really a pretty unique film that differs from other films in that genre in several major respects. First off, it is much more of a big-budget, arty affair with big-name actors like Vittorio Gassman and Catherine Deneuve, and a director who had just come off a big international art-house success with "Profuma di Donna" (the original Italian version of "Scent of a Woman" which also featured Gassman). It's also much more obscure than most giallo and was never clumsily dubbed into English. Mostly though it has a plot that actually makes sense and it develops slowly and subtly--quite a contrast from the hysterical tone and overwrought style of most gialli.
A naive young man studying art in Venice comes to stay with distant relatives, an elderly uncle (Gassman) and a somewhat younger aunt (Deneuve). In "Jane Eyre" fashion he discovers that his uncle is apparently keeping his insane brother in a secret room in an attic. His curiosity is piqued and he begins to investigate with his new artist model/girlfriend (Alcinee Alvina), and quickly discovers that all is not as it seems with his mysterious relatives.
You have to have a little patience with this film (especially if you're expecting a typical giallo). The atmosphere builds up slowly, but ultimately quite effectively. There is no graphic violence at all and no sex (aside from a memorable nude scene from the gorgeous Alvina). The final revelations at the end though are as perverse and disturbing as anything you'll find in any other giallo, with intimations of child abuse, incest, and the dual nature of man. Without giving too much away, this movie ends up being one of the best, most faithful adaptations of a certain classic story by R.L. Stevenson that I've seen. It's very hard to find, but find it.
A naive young man studying art in Venice comes to stay with distant relatives, an elderly uncle (Gassman) and a somewhat younger aunt (Deneuve). In "Jane Eyre" fashion he discovers that his uncle is apparently keeping his insane brother in a secret room in an attic. His curiosity is piqued and he begins to investigate with his new artist model/girlfriend (Alcinee Alvina), and quickly discovers that all is not as it seems with his mysterious relatives.
You have to have a little patience with this film (especially if you're expecting a typical giallo). The atmosphere builds up slowly, but ultimately quite effectively. There is no graphic violence at all and no sex (aside from a memorable nude scene from the gorgeous Alvina). The final revelations at the end though are as perverse and disturbing as anything you'll find in any other giallo, with intimations of child abuse, incest, and the dual nature of man. Without giving too much away, this movie ends up being one of the best, most faithful adaptations of a certain classic story by R.L. Stevenson that I've seen. It's very hard to find, but find it.
helpful•295
- lazarillo
- Jun 7, 2006
- How long is The Forbidden Room?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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