Now, I know that it's tremendously popular nowadays to make new horror movies look like as if they were made 30-40 years ago. For certain genres this also works perfectly well, like the 80s slasher or the 70s grindhouse flick, but certain other cinematic styles and sub-genres were so periodically and culturally specific that they simply don't fit in this current post-Millennial era. The Giallo is, at least in my humble opinion, such a sub-genre, and even though I genuinely admire the Onetti brothers' goodwill and enthusiasm to pay tribute to these unique films, their "Abrakadabra" just didn't evoke any feelings of nostalgia or excitement. Exceptions aside, the true Gialli came from Italy and were released between 1969 and 1975. They are wonderfully deranged movies with twisted plots, absurd twists, graphic violence, gratuitous sex and experimental stylistic aspects. The Onettis most certainly did their homework in terms of look & feel, as "Abrakadabra" features chaotic color patterns, inept sound effects & editing and massively theatrical death sequences. For some reason, however, they also assumed that an incoherent plot with giant holes and logical errors are also a mandatory trademark. That's not the case, or at least I never felt so! The setting is excellent: a washed up, alcoholic and gambling-addicted magician, still traumatized because he witnessed the death of his father on stage following a magic trick gone wrong, suddenly becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation when the corpse of a woman is discovered amidst his magic show equipment. The cadavers continue to pile up, and everything points in the direction of our sleazy magician, but he is determined to prove that someone else wants to frame him. It's definitely a strong giallo-concept, with several praiseworthy technical aspects and two or three delightfully sadistic slayings (the guillotine!). But, believe me, I've seen more than 120 authentic gialli, yet I've rarely ever encountered one with a script so randomly structured and uneven. There are dozens of great but sadly obscure gialli out there to discover, psychedelic ones as well as straightforward ones. Please, seek them out!
6 Reviews
Getting better at this
BandSAboutMovies19 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Thirty years after his father The Great Dante was killed during a magic trick gone wrong, Lorenzo is now being accused of a series of murders that all have magical themes as he struggles to present the biggest show of his career.
This is the third film in the Onetti Brothers' Giallo Trilogy, following Francesca and Sonno Profundo. For all the reviewers that bring up their Argento style, the true maniacs, the ones who put on their gloves while watching a giallo, the people like, well, me and you - we realize that their influences go beyond the touchstones every critic uses. For all of those that love Martino as much as Argento, good news. This feels like one of his films that was lost in time.
I caught the YouTube premiere of the film, which is missing most of the gore and nudity, which would be the selling point for many a fan of these films. But for the other parts of the form, such as the soundtrack, the plot that goes everywhere and nowhere at the same time, even the look of the color and film, this is a true piece of giallo in a time when I wondered if all the gold has truly been mined.
That said, you can look forward to people decrying its dubbing, acting and plot. Those people have never seen anything beyond Suspiria and have declared themselves experts. Screw it. I hope these Argentinian madmen keep making movies. I'll pour them a whole bottle of J&B if I ever get the chance to meet them.
This is the third film in the Onetti Brothers' Giallo Trilogy, following Francesca and Sonno Profundo. For all the reviewers that bring up their Argento style, the true maniacs, the ones who put on their gloves while watching a giallo, the people like, well, me and you - we realize that their influences go beyond the touchstones every critic uses. For all of those that love Martino as much as Argento, good news. This feels like one of his films that was lost in time.
I caught the YouTube premiere of the film, which is missing most of the gore and nudity, which would be the selling point for many a fan of these films. But for the other parts of the form, such as the soundtrack, the plot that goes everywhere and nowhere at the same time, even the look of the color and film, this is a true piece of giallo in a time when I wondered if all the gold has truly been mined.
That said, you can look forward to people decrying its dubbing, acting and plot. Those people have never seen anything beyond Suspiria and have declared themselves experts. Screw it. I hope these Argentinian madmen keep making movies. I'll pour them a whole bottle of J&B if I ever get the chance to meet them.
the outfits and hair!!!!
nick12123513 February 2021
I was a little bit disappointed by some of the clothing and hair and makeup choices, namely for women, that didn't look 70s at all. It seems like they didn't understand how important it is to have the correct clothing and hairstyles to keep the atmosphere of the film up, which is so sad because the camera work and everything else was very on point. i was extremely impressed by how much this seemed like a real giallo but then a piece of obvious 2000s clothing would rip me out of the dream... also the people in this film are not rich, which is usually a big part of gialli; rich characters with gorgeous, baroque houses and apartments. That's another thing that ripped me out. It almost felt more slasher than giall at times... sad because this film had so much potential and I liked Francesca. I loved the soundtrack though.
Superficial
hakeemtarabulsi12 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If I didn't know the actual year of production, I probably would have thought the movie is from the 70s era, which is a plus point.
The plot anyway is clumsy, while a considerable part of the story is derived from 'Identity (2003)' if I am not mistaken.
The plot anyway is clumsy, while a considerable part of the story is derived from 'Identity (2003)' if I am not mistaken.
Time Machine
kosmasp13 September 2022
Giallos - you either like them or you don't. And the same is true for this right here. It does cut deep - no pun intended and meant as a nod - homage or whatever else you want to call it. This is fan service of sorts. The movie really checks all the boxes, from the whodunnit, to the nudity, to the violence, to the insane twists after twist towards the end ... well you will not be dissapointed if that was floating your boat.
You may be surprised to hear or see that this was made in 2018, especially because it really does its best to look old ... to look "bad". So all that in purpose - hopefully something that is good for you. If you are not a fan of Giallo I would suggest not watching this. Because this will have the same things you hate about those movies (genre if you want to call it that).
Otherwise sit back, relax and let the movie take you on a ride ... no brownie points if you guessed the big twist ...
You may be surprised to hear or see that this was made in 2018, especially because it really does its best to look old ... to look "bad". So all that in purpose - hopefully something that is good for you. If you are not a fan of Giallo I would suggest not watching this. Because this will have the same things you hate about those movies (genre if you want to call it that).
Otherwise sit back, relax and let the movie take you on a ride ... no brownie points if you guessed the big twist ...
Bravo
timothynickson-5065518 November 2018
Usually when someone makes a film like this I find it to be a complete mess. However this is not the case here, the plot keeps you guessing with nods to such giallo classics like Tenebrae and The Bird With The Crystal Plumage.
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